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Our Vision
Life Choices is a non-profit organisation dedicated to youth development in some of Cape Town’s most impoverished communities. Life Choices believes in walking alongside the youth to help them know their value and know that whatever they’ve been through, seen and experienced, they are worth the very best. Our vision is to see a South Africa with empowered and passionate youth equipped to make informed and healthy Life Choices. Click here to watch our introductory film.
Our History
Our history is rooted in the Salesians of Don Bosco. In 2004, the Salesians were granted support from the USA Government (PEPFAR) to start a Youth Development Project (Life Choices) in South Africa. Together with the support of the Western Cape Department of Education and Health, Life Choices was started. Its aim was to contribute to the decrease of social illness (HIV/AIDS, Teen-pregnancy; Substance Use, Violence, Hopelessness etc.) among young people.
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Our Mission
Our mission is to come alongside the youth to help them know their value. Thus, to help them understand that whatever they’ve been through, seen and experienced they are worth the very best. Life Choices wants to encourage youth to have hope despite their circumstances. We want young people to have big dreams and to make decisions that will help them move in the direction of those dreams. We want young people to own who they are, to invest in their lives, to build themselves and to actively make choices that will give them the freedom to grow.
The project bases its work on the principles that young people need the following to protect themselves against social illness:
- Information
- Skills
- Youth-friendly services and
- A safe and supportive environment
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Our Activities
With our mission in mind, Life Choices developed 9 strategies that we believe will effectively impact our communities:
- Life Skills Programme
- Dream2Be Programme
- Welfare Programme
- Educators Workshops
- Career Guidance Programme
- Parental Skills Programme
- Mentorship and Coaching Programme
- Phoenix Programme (Diversion)
- HCT (HIV Counselling and Testing) Programme
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1. Life Skills Programme
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Life Choices bases many of its work in schools because they present the perfect opportunity for accessing young people from all walks of life. These young people in turn have access to their parents, siblings, peers from other schools and peers who, for whatever reason, are not within the school system. In this way, school-based programmes can truly impact communities. |
We focus our intervention in high schools, working with children from Grade 8 and continuing to Grade 12. This allows the Organisation to work at preventing behaviours and also to work towards modifying unhealthy behaviours before it is too late. One of our comprehensive approaches in the school system is training kids in life skills.
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Life skills help young people to become aware of risk and it gives them the tools to avoid it. This component also emphasises other developmental issues such as self-value, vision, respect, responsibility, problem solving, human rights and more. The programme consists of 7 sessions presented during Life Orientation periods by a pair of young adults.
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2. Dream2BeProgramme
In the beginning of 2011, Life Choices entered in an agreement with the Western Cape Department of Health and the Department of Education to run the provincial Peer-Education Programme in all targeted 32 high schools located in the Klipfontein Health sub-district (Athlone, Bonteheuwel, Lansdowne, Manenberg, Hanover Park, Heideveld, Gugulethu, Philippi and Nyanga). Peer-Education is a dynamic, effective and well researched strategy, used globally to effect social change. It is based on the concept that people don’t change with information, but change when others around them change. Our Peer Education programme is called Dream2Be and it aims to develop soft skills and to encourage youth to have hope and dreams despite their circumstances. It also encourages youth to make practical plans and decisions that will move them in the direction of those dreams.
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In Dream2Be, a select group of Grade 10 and 11 learners (Dreamers) are trained and mobilised to unleash their own potential and transform their own lives. These young leaders will then in turn impart knowledge and skills to peers in their schools (especially Grade 8 and 9 learners) but also in their communities. Trained young people will be equipped to fulfil the four roles of peer-education (role modelling positive behaviour, formally and informally educating peers, recognising and referring peers with problems, and advocating for youth-friendlier services in their community. Besides attending the skills training sessions, peer-educators are requested to organise different activities with their peers (assemblies, debates, one-on-one conversations, lessons, workshops and community projects). |
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Over the years, we have gained ample experience in how to implement an effective peer education programme. Based on our experience (which is also supported by over 40 years of research) peer educators need some form of compensation or reward to motivate them throughout the programme. Thus, our strategy is to use a points system. For every activity Dreamers engage in, they receive a certain number of points. Every term the top performer in each school is rewarded with an educational prize. We aim to make these prizes fun and inspiring. Many of our Dreamers do not get a chance to go on exciting outings and these young, inquisitive minds crave new experiences. We would like to broaden the horizons of these amazing learners and reward them for the hard work they do by trying to up-lift their communities. Check out our Wish List to see how you can help this amazing programme!
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| 3. Welfare Programme |
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Life Choices targets children and youth from disadvantage communities. On a daily basis the Organisation finds children that need help in order to overcome the difficult social situations they find themselves in. Life Choices' Social Worker visits targeted schools twice a month and additional emergency situations. Educators, Facilitators and Dreamers refer people to this service. Counselling takes place on a one-on-one basis and thereafter parents are informed and counseled if necessary. Referrals to other specialised organisations and government services are made and followed-up when the situation requires it. |
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| 4. Educators Workshops |
Life Choices recognises the important role that educators play in a society where many children are parentless and family structures are no longer as they used to be. This component engages educators through workshops to develop skills that enable them to be supportive role models. Some of the topics covered with the whole school staff include HIV/AIDS, Conflict Resolution, Child Abuse, Problem Solving, Team-building, and the Circle of Courage Theory among others. |
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| 5. Career Guidance |
Children that are motivated and excited about their futures are more likely to protect their lives by changing their lifestyles. This component aims at giving individuals’ personalised guidance (one-on-one) so that they have clear plans for when they are finished with high school. This is to give individuals a sense that their future is promising. |
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6. Parental Skills Programme
This part of the programme supports parents in their role as key players in their children’s lives. Research has shown that the quality of the relationships that parents have with their children is a key determinant of a child’s behaviour. Life Choices offers Parental Skills workshops to parents and guardians. The focus of this programme is to improve their knowledge and skills to deal with youth issues, as well as to improve the parental involvement in the child’s social and school life.
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| 7. Mentorship / Coaching Programme |
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Schools have learners that are experiencing difficulties at school for different reasons. Educators identify such learners and this component is offered to them and their families. Psychology students (often international students like the volunteers in these pictures) mentor/coach learners on a one-on-one basis for a minimum of ten weeks in order to help learners overcome their difficulties and to become productive members of the school once again. |
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| 8. Phoenix Programme (Diversion Programme) |
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The Phoenix Programme is our latest initiative. It targets identified learners in the school who are at risk of developing serious behavioural problems (violence, gang membership, drug abuse). These learners already show the first signs of problematic behaviour but they are not yet serious offenders. Thus, the programme is preventative and aims to divert these youths away from circumstances that will have major negative consequences for their futures. |
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9. HIV Counselling and Testing Programme
We acknowledge that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is fuelled by the fact that an estimated 10% of the population in South Africa is HIV-positive but only a small percentage (one out of nine) is aware of their HIV-status. HIV Counselling and Testing is an effective method used to prevent new infections. Thus, funded by the USA Government and initiated in 2007, we run a ‘Youth Friendly Mobile HIV Counselling and Testing’ Programme. It targets mainly young people in schools, colleges and universities as well as the general population in communities.
Our HCT model is based on the belief that sustained and positive behaviour change requires:
(1) significant investment of time, (2) information sharing, (3) one-on-one support and (4) resources.
We do the following to reach these objectives:
Awareness Campaigns
During awareness and HCT mobilisation activities people are addressed in interactive ways (drama, dancing, drumming and more) in order to make HIV/AIDS information more appealing, to create awareness about the HCT processes and to encourage people to go for an HIV test. These run for 20 to 30 minutes either before the HCT campaign takes place or can run hand in hand with the campaign throughout the day.
Pre-Counselling Sessions
During the pre-counselling sessions clients discuss their fears around issues, as well as the various risk factors and protective resources in their lives. They use the information discussed to analyse their life style and then to either think of ways they could minimise their risk or ways to maintain already healthy behaviours. These sessions are conducted one-on-one using interactive and creative methods to make the client feel comfortable and share experiences. TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections are also screened for during this session. |
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Testing
Life Choices Nurses conduct the test using a serial algorithm as the Western Cape Department of Health recommends.Rapid tests that only need few drops of blood are used during the process and the test results are obtained in 10 to 15 minutes.
Post-Counselling Sessions
During the post-counselling sessions clients receive their testing results and they reflect about what was discussed during the pre-counselling sessions. Plans are made with each client about how to maintain their negative status or how to manage their positive diagnosis. To each client who is diagnosed as HIV positive, Life Choices offers 5 support sessions with a professional psychologist (one-on-one) as well as telephonic support. All clients are further referred to the relevant services.
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How can You get Involved?
You will agree that by investing in our communities and young people we will improve future human capacity and assist in the building of a society were people can explore their full potential.
As we work in the field of human development we always need your assistance!
We would like to partner with you, your company or your organisation:
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- Get involved by VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME AND SKILLS.
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Or you can MAKE A DONATION. Go to the SPDO page for the Salesians’ banking details.
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You can view OUR WISH LIST for the Dream2Be Programme. Research shows that peer educators
need to be rewarded for their hard work. This will keep them motivated. This is why we aim to give our
top performing peer educators prizes at the end of each term. We aim to make these prizes exciting
and focus on excursions that will broaden their horizons. Feel free to contact us if there are any other
prizes you or your company can offer.
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We also aim to give our top 20 performing Dreamers SCHOLARSHIPS so that they can further their
education, make their dreams come true, and they can become true role-models in their
Community.
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Please contact us if you would like to get involved. |
| Sponsor one of these day trips |
Minimum number of people to sponsor |
Cost per person |
Cost for 2 children and 1 adult |
Cost for entire group of educators (24 learners) |
Trip to Table Mountain
Transport (R3.05/km x 30 km)
Something to eat (R30 p/p)
Cable car ticket (R180 return p/p)
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2 Dreamers (feel free to sponsor more) and one adult |
Transport:
R91, 50
Per Person:
R30+R180 = R210 |
R722 |
R5,660 |
Trip to Robin Island
Transport (R3.05/km x 44 km)
Ticket (R110 per child, R220 per adult)
Snack (R30) |
2 Dreamers (feel free to sponsor more) and one adult |
Transport Costs:
R134, 20
Cost per teenager (Dreamer):
R110+R30 = R140
Cost per accompanying adult:
R220+R30 = R250
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R664 |
R4,260 |
Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront and The Jolly Roger Boat Cruise
Transport (R3.05/km x 30 km)
Aquarium entrance fee (R75 p/p)
Something to eat (R30 p/p)
Boat Cruise (R50 per learner and R100 for one adult)
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2 Dreamers (feel free to sponsor more) and one adult |
Transport Costs:
R91, 50
Cost per teenager (Dreamer):
R75+R30+R50= R155
Cost per accompanying adult:
R75+R30+R100= R205 |
R607 |
R4,314 |
Iziko Planetarium and South African Museum
Transport (R3.05/km x 30 km)
Planetarium entrance fee (R6 for youth, R25 per adult)
South Africa Museum entrance fee (younger than 18 is free, adult is R20)
Something to eat at restaurant (R30) |
2 Dreamers (feel free to sponsor more) and one adult |
Transport Costs:
R91, 50
Cost per teenager (Dreamer):
R6+R0+R30 = R36
Cost per accompanying adult:
R25+R20+R30 = R75 |
R239 |
R1,198 |
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Contact us
If you would like to get involved and contribute, or would like to know more about our organisation, please contact us:
Phone from international location: +27 21 696 4157 / +27 21 696 4167
Phone from inside South Africa: (021) 696 4157 / (021) 696 4167
Email: recruitment.lifechoices@gmail.com
Fax: +27 21 696 4187
Street address: Life Choices, 310 Lansdowne Road, Lansdowne, 7780, Cape Town,
South Africa.
Postal address: P.O. Box 14290, Kenwyn, 7790 |
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