“Now it is Time for Us to Spread the Truth”
Antoinette Mbenenge named her life-coaching business “Siyanqoba,” a Xhosa word that means “conquer” or “overcome.” Now, with the Truth About Drugs, she is giving her people the means to do just that.
Children have been made to believe that there is nothing that they can do for themselves with their clear mind,” says Mbenenge, who finds that drug-abusing celebrities are too often children’s role models in South Africa. “If they want to achieve something in their lives, these youth feel they need to use drugs.”
In search of answers, Mbenenge came upon the Foundation for a Drug-Free World online in 2015 and after overcoming her disbelief at the quality of the materials (and their lack of a price tag) she ordered her own set.
Since then, Mbenenge has reached some 6,000 South Africans, delivering the Truth About Drugs presentations to churches, schools and rehab centers throughout Gauteng Province. Mbenenge gets regular reports from teachers that students transform after her presentations.
“It is amazing how they get excited. ‘Wow, at last, here is the solution to our problems,’ they feel. Learners get convinced that they can do it and really want to be drug-free.”
“It is amazing how they get excited. ‘Wow, at last, here is the solution to our problems,’ they feel. Learners get convinced that they can do it and really want to be drug-free,” she says.
Twelve-year-old Mpho was a drug-addicted youth whose teacher approached Mbenenge for help after a presentation. Mbenenge gave The Truth About Drugs booklets to Mpho’s mother, who walked him through the short and long term effects. Fast-forward several weeks, and Mpho is completely clean and profoundly grateful.
“I plan to travel the world, reaching out to young people everywhere with this powerful program to give them real facts so they can make wise decisions and live drug-free,” says Mbenenge, whose new slogan is “Drugs Must Fall” in South Africa. “Lies have been spread all around and now it is time for us to spread the truth.”
FACTS
MARIJUANA—THE TRUTH
There is a lot of talk about marijuana. Peeling the talk away, here are just the numbers:
55%
OF MARIJUANA USERS
started using due to pressure from their friends.
8
POINTS
drop in IQ possible from smoking pot from adolescence to adulthood.
PROTECT YOUNG LIVES
Support the Foundation for a Drug-Free World and help protect young lives from the destructive effects of drugs. Your contributions enable us to make our educational materials available free of charge to schools, youth organizations and other groups and individuals. Your support helps empower people with the facts they need to live healthy, drug-free lives.
