130 Youth Learn to Maximize Their Potential at Scientology Workshop

Press Release • Apr 7, 2016

Department of Health and Social Development of the City of Tshwane/Pretoria and the Church of Scientology Pretoria teamed up help 130 youth ages 10-16 succeed in life.

Pretoria, South Africa, April 7, 2016 (Newswire.com) - “Know Your Potential” was the theme of a workshop that addressed several critical problems with 130 young men and women age 10-16. Coordinated by the Department of Health and Social Development of the City of Tshwane/Pretoria and delivered by Director of Special Affairs of the Church of Scientology Pretoria Maurithus Meiring, the workshop took up how to succeed in school, how to contend with bullying and why youth should steer clear of drugs.

Meiring began by teaching the students a few simple tools to improve their ability to learn and apply what they study because those who matriculate (graduate from school) are much more likely to succeed in life. The young people found the information easy to understand and were eager to use it to help them in their studies.

As bullying is a problem most of the attendees were concerned about, Meiring next drilled them on how to address the problem, whether it is happening to them or they see it occurring to another.

Meiring then took up an issue dear to his heart: As Coordinator of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Africa and member of the interim board of the Gauteng City Region Anti-Substance Abuse Social Movement, he is very familiar with the havoc drugs create in South Africa. He educated the students on the harmful short- and long-term effects of alcohol, marijuana and nyaope—a deadly drug that is ravaging South African townships.

The program ended with the students pledging to live drug-free.

Members from the Department of Health and Social Development plan to organize a follow-up event for parents at the Church of Scientology Pretoria to provide them with resources to help their children avoid the tragedy of drug addiction.

Scientologists on six continents work in their communities throughout the year to empower others with the truth about drugs. The Church and its members are dedicated to eradicating drug abuse through education.

The Church of Scientology supports The Truth About Drugs initiative, one of the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaigns.

It has been conclusively proven that when young people are provided with the truth about drugs—factual information on what drugs are and what they do—usage rates drop commensurately.