“Thank you for the talk you gave to our pupils yesterday. You dealt with the issues in a way that did not involve lecturing to the pupils, but rather aimed to inform and educate them on the implications for their growth and especially brain development of their choices. You dealt with all the main challengers that they face. I liked the Tug-of-Life Game plan, and I hope that the pupils will see the value of identifying the characters in their life’s contests. Hopefully all these interventions will help to build a community of Galvanizers that will help the pupils to defeat the Challengers in their life. Thank you.”
– John Gelling, Principal, High School, De La Salle Holy Cross College
“Any parent with children of school-going age would do well to spend an hour or so in the company of Izabella Little-Gates. She shared with expertise, passion and sensitivity of heart on the subject of the dangers faced by 21st Century adolescents. Her presentation held nothing back from parents who sat spellbound as she unwrapped the many layers of risks, threats and real life dramas that all too often, if ignored, serve to take young people hostage while leaving parents feeling frustrated, heartbroken, and helpless. A sobering reality check! Thanks again.”
– Richard Stanley, Headmaster, Highbury Preparatory School
“I need to salute you for helping our parents and students, in inviting Izabella all the way from KZN to address them last night. We sat in the very back row and trust me, judging from the comments that I could lip read/hear, the shock tactics definitely worked for our students! I think that Izabella achieved what she set out to do – create an awareness of all the issues that she addressed – that are an absolute reality. This is certainly a very different era of teenagehood that a lot of us didn’t grow up with – issues that didn’t exist, which makes it a learning curve for parents.”
– D, parent
“We got an unprecedented turnout and everyone thought it was an evening to be remembered. The parents had a lot of questions, and it was apparent through the rapt attention, that adults and teens alike thought the evening was worthwhile and informative. I want to say that Sue was an angel to work with – competent, efficient and highly organised. What a pleasure! She went out of her way to make the evening the enormous success it was.”
– Carroll Coosner (Psychologist) & Ilona Hermna (Deputy Principal, Vista Nova School)
“A friend of mine went to a talk given by you at her daughter’s school. She was completely blown away by what you shared with the parents and the amazing coping tools and advice you gave them. She has been on a mission to get all parents to tap in to the wonderful ways to raise our children in a wholesome way and to give them the mechanisms to grow up normally in a world that has changed so much since we were children. On her advice I visited your web page and I too was amazed at what you are doing – and enormously grateful for the huge effort you are making to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
– C. Emberton
“Sue Linstrom has always been professional and impressive in her delivery and interactions. Her course material is topical, interesting, relevant, engaging and spans a range of age groups. She communicates well with pupils, as well as adults. Both our pupils and parents have benefited from her presentations. We look forward to booking Sue again in the future and recommend her without hesitation.”
– Graham Keats, Head: Senior Preparatory/ College, Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard
“It was such a pleasure to host you and I am still glowing from all the good things that parents and heads have said to me about the impact you made. As I said to you, giving a good talk is one thing, but being recognised as a speaker with integrity is quite another.”
– Andrew Cook, Principal, Mitchell House
“Found the talk presented at Vista Nova Primary School very interesting … Bought a copy of “Life Talk for a Son”, gave it to the 14 yr old, he got into it right away and found it “a great book!” … I read snatches of it and would recommend it to every adult who is trying to understand adolescents.”
– Jocylyn
“The children responded well to the content. The presentations were well paced, well prepared and pitched at exactly the right level.”
– Mary Hyam, Deputy Principal, De La Salle Holy Cross College Primary School
“Life Talk has provided detailed reports on the workshops our learners have had with them, which we have used to great advantage to alert us to potential problem areas and ways in which to address these. Constructive and practical advice is given on how to deal with issues facing these young people and a healthy forum for debate is created in this fashion.”
– Hein Weber, Principal, Khanyisa Education Centre
“Sally and Izabella are compelling speakers because one senses their passion about the issues and a desire to make a difference to all young people and families. They come across as speakers who have integrity and who have faced the problems themselves. As a result their responses are full of compassionate understanding for the difficulties that are faced in raising children but are prepared to do something positive about them anyway. They are in the trenches with us and not viewing the battle from a comfy academic distance.”
– A. Cook, Headmaster, Mitchell House
“God Bless You and your organization for empowering our people, especially our children – in the hope of a better life. What you are doing is showing the country that life is not only about oneself but about everybody and everything around one – it is that which we all call HUMANITY! I really do salute you!”
– M Beharilal
Hi Sue, I attended the training you gave on Tuesday at the ACVV. I really enjoyed it and I wanted to commend you on your presentation skills. You managed to make boring subjects interesting again! I am definitely going to be implementing the programme soon and I will keep you informed about the progress.
– A. C. Social worker
Hi Sally, Thank you so much for this valuable advice. It’s a privilege to be able to ask such important and sensitive questions & to be able to receive quick sound advice. I am going to purchase your book for future reference as I can see future discussions with regards to boundaries & cheekiness that seems to be creeping in now & again.
– Andrew
”Thank you so much for your talk this morning. The children really enjoyed it as it tied in with so many of the things we had been discussing at school during class – self-respect, self-esteem, etc.Tomorrow I have the Grade 10 class for Life Orientation and I shall follow up some of your ideas and topics during the lesson.”
– Lindy Messaris, L.O., Cedarwood
