Stay Sharp. Build Character. Protect the Vulnerable. Be Their Voice.
Strength is more than physical ability.
Stay Sharp is Create Lasting Change's initiative for boys and young men, encouraging them to build resilience, strengthen their mental wellbeing, and develop the character needed to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
We believe that true strength is reflected in how we treat those around us, the choices we make, and our willingness to stand up for those who cannot always stand up for themselves.
A central focus of Stay Sharp is supporting the mental wellbeing of boys and young men. Reports across Southern Africa, including Namibia and South Africa, continue to highlight the mental health challenges many young men face and the need for greater awareness, support, and positive role models. Too often, they grow up believing they must carry life's burdens alone or that asking for help is a sign of weakness.
At Create Lasting Change, we want to help change that narrative. We believe that speaking up takes courage, asking for support demonstrates character, and looking after your mental wellbeing is one of the greatest strengths a person can have. Our goal is to encourage boys and young men to build resilience, develop emotional intelligence, and discover that true strength lies not in silence, but in the courage to seek support, stand up for what is right, and protect those who are more vulnerable than themselves.
Because young men with strong character don't simply change their own lives—they become role models. They become protectors of animals, advocates for girls and women, supporters of vulnerable people, and leaders who strengthen their communities through courage, compassion, respect, humility, and accountability.
That is the vision behind Stay Sharp: helping the next generation develop the resilience, mental wellbeing, and strength of character needed to make a lasting positive difference in the world.
Strength starts with character.
Character is built through challenge. Through perseverance. Through moments that test us physically, mentally, and emotionally. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow, to lead by example, and to discover that our greatest strength lies not in what we achieve for ourselves but in the positive difference we make for others.
The values that guide our actions.
Ruben de Kemp is a documentary filmmaker committed to highlighting real-world issues and giving voice to stories that are often unseen or unheard. His work emphasizes capturing authentic human experiences and raising awareness about complex social challenges through powerful visual storytelling.
Ruben’s approach is immersive and compassionate, enabling audiences to deeply connect with the realities faced by vulnerable communities. He is the filmmaker behind the documentaries Where Hope Grows, which tells the stories of women affected by gender-based violence in Cape Town, and A Starfish Story, filmed in Namibia, which showcases the work of a mobile animal clinic supporting vulnerable animals and communities.
Within Create Lasting Change, Ruben plays a vital role in documenting the stories behind the organization’s initiatives and the communities it supports. By his unique ability to uncover unseen struggles and turn them into compelling stories, he helps raise awareness of the issues the organization tackles and enhances the impact of its work.
Netherlands
Sunny is the Founder and Strategic Lead of Create Lasting Change. With a degree in International Management, experience in cybersecurity, and global leadership roles across leading technology and consulting companies, she brings strategic, international, and cross-sector expertise to the nonprofit space.
She is the author of Recalibrate Your Mind, with all proceeds directly supporting programs for abused women.
Sunny founded the organization based on her conviction that violence is interconnected — the abuse of animals, women, and children rarely occurs in isolation. Guided by this belief, she established the Voices of Vulnerability (VoV) initiative together with a dedicated team to raise awareness and strengthen prevention efforts.
Her lifelong advocacy includes rescuing animals and supporting projects for street children and abused women. To further strengthen the organization’s prevention work, Sunny is currently pursuing continuing education in criminology to deepen the understanding of the systemic drivers of violence and help shape the future direction of the nonprofit’s initiatives.
As a committed vegan, she believes that human welfare, animal protection, and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected.
Germany - previously South Africa and Namibia
