We live in a time where kids are able to immerse themselves in a digital universe that parents know very little about. It’s a world with unseen new influences like cyber-bullying and fads that could affect children’s behaviour and compromise their safety, even leading to tragedies like the well-publicised tween and teen suicides that captured South Africa’s attention at the end of last year. This is a tough challenge that all connected families will face in this day and age, and we need to talk about it.
Journalist and father David O’ Sullivan was joined in conversation by writer and mom Mandy Collins, educational psychologist Tshepiso Matentjie and Liesl Göttert, mom, communications strategist and founder of the Klara Göttert Foundation.
You can watch the conversation below:
About your host:
David is no stranger to the South African media-landscape, having worked at Talk Radio 702 for 19 years and 11 years as a sports presenter on SABC2 and SABC3. He is the co-author of two best-selling books: “The Penguin Book of South African Sports Trivia” and “The Extraordinary Book of South African Cricket”. He regularly MCs corporate events. David is also the father of two boys, therefore bringing his own unique insights to this topic.
Joining David in the studio:
Mandy Collins is an author, journalist and editor based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her roots are in journalism, but she has written and edited in a number of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and in the media, commercial and academic spheres. Having a strong presence on social media and the blogosphere, Mandy joins the conversation as a cyber-savvy mom of two girls who knows about some of the pitfalls to look out for.
Tshepiso Matentjie is an Educational Psychologist, Co-Active Coach and part-time lecturer at the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) at the University of Pretoria as well as at Wits University at the School of Public Management and Development. To date, she has served as the resident psychologist on 3 Talk with Noeleen on SABC 3 and I’spani on SABC 2 and also served as a consultant psychologist at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership academy for girls.
Liesl Göttert is an international corporate communications strategist based in Johannesburg. She founded the Klara Göttert Foundation after the tragic loss of her daughter Klara (14), who took her own life in August 2015. The foundation aims to provide help to people of all ages struggling with depression, bullying, abuse, drugs, underage drinking, corporal punishment and destructive behaviour.
What is an Iris Session?
It is a Google Hangout that you can listen to live via Google+, or later, via YouTube and the Change Exchange site. Each session lasts 30 to 40 minutes and if you are watching live, you can send your questions through to the facilitator via the Hangout page. The facilitator will then bring your questions into the conversation.
Keep an eye on our Events page to ensure you diarise the dates. We looking forward to connecting with you!
If you missed our previous Iris Session Finding joy in your job, you can watch the recording here.
Why ‘Iris’? 
Iris is the name of BrightRock’s icon. This was called Iris in reference to eye – which lets in the light – and the Greek goddess of light whose rainbow connected the heavens with the Earth.
These sessions act as digital conversation spaces that we hope will provide you with new perspectives and shed light on the moments of change in your life.
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