Shirley was fascinated that children as young as 10 - 12, in Ireland, were able to grasp the fundamental messages of Free Your Thought. Even at that age they recognised the value of not being trapped in the prison of the mind and could choose to find better, healthier, more positive ways of thinking, feeling and doing. These children, on a voluntary proactive programme by the Guardai ("police") to keep vulnerable children out of the influence of drug lords and criminals, were offered an experience of the Free Your Thought concepts. Despite being free to get up and leave if they wished (a common occurrence), each child stayed to the end. Their mentor pronounced this "impressive".
Free Your Thought ventured into the squatter camp community recently. Under the auspices of the Salesian congregation (founded by Saint John Bosco), Trevor and Shirley had the privilege of taking some of the most impoverished informal settlement teachers in the country through the one day x four weeks Transformational Thinking Skills and Behaviours programme. As one young teacher commented, "I was shocked to find I was a prisoner in my mind." Another said, "If we can follow the rules of this course we will build our country and even other countries." We were inspired by their courage and resilience; horrified at the traumas they have been through; and grateful we could share some ideas that can revolutionise their lives.
Shirley Roeloffze is currently implementing Free Your Thought's Transformational Thinking Skills programme within the Government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The brief is to train the top 1000 managers and executives of the Abu Dhabi Government and subsequently the remaining members of the Government.