Life Talk Forum for Cape Town schools

Our youths are faced with serious challenges on a daily basis. Things that are seemingly harmless, such as browsing the Internet, to more serious challenges such as joining gangs and drug abuse have grave consequences for the young, who are not necessarily equipped emotionally to stand up for themselves and realise their dreams.

Sue Linstrom, who runs Life Talk in Cape Town, explained: "'Life comes in Cans, not in Can-nots' is an age-appropriate talk for learners about being able to stand up for themselves and reach their goal person in light of the various challenges they face during their teens. The learners are encouraged to question their involvement in the various challenges, such as: alcohol, drugs, gangsterism, cyber bullying as well as sexual promiscuity, and are asked whether getting involved in a certain challenge will bring them closer to, or further away from, their goal person."

Vital to empower youths

Linstrom continued: "It is vital to empower our youths to be able to say 'no' to drugs and alcohol, or many of the other challenges they face daily, by highlighting that they can make a choice - they just have to decide how important it is to them. This talk is about making them think firstly about their goal person and, secondly, giving them the power to stand up and say: 'I can reach it!'"

"PenBev sponsors these Life Talk sessions and transport for learners who are in disadvantaged areas, where the challenges of the teen years are many," said Denise Green, corporate social responsibility manager of PenBev. "We have found it tremendously beneficial to work closely with Life Talk this year, which provides straightforward talks about pressing issues that children in our society are often exposed to, and how best to deal with difficult situations. We look forward to continuing these sessions in 2012."

For more information about Life Talk, go to www.lifetalk.co.za or, for more information about the projects that PenBev is involved with, go to www.penbev.co.za.