GALLERY: Lessons of captivity workshop to teach how to handle challenges
RUIMSIG – Monique Strydom gives lessons learned from her kidnapping experience.
Monique Strydom hosted a training session called Lessons From Captivity on 26 November at the Afrique Boutique Hotel.
The training session was based on Strydom’s experience when she was captured while on holiday along with 20 other people from around the world, including her husband.
They were held hostage in the Philippine Island of Jolo for four months by Abu Sayyaf rebels in 2000.
According to Strydom, they had to run for their lives through jungles, had very little food and water and were faced with many other dangers.
“In the last month of our captivity, we were surrounded by 5 000 rebels and I thought, everyday was my last,” said Strydom.
She added that she had never thought she would make it out alive.
Strydom describes her experience as, “Two days of holiday and four months of hell.”
Muammar Gaddafi put up USD100 million for the release of the 21 hostages and the South African hostages were received back into the country by former presidents Thabo Mbeki and the late Nelson Mandela.
Lessons From Captivity is a training session that seeks to help ordinary people cope with their challenges.
The main points that Strydom focused on are taking control of your situation; expanding your borders; enjoying small victories; finding humor in difficult situations; having a positive mental attitude and shifting your focus to helping others.
Strydom comfortably told her story to a group of 60 guests, including the sponsors of her Matla A Bana organisation for abused children and some guests from the SAPS. Strydom also gave special awards to her sponsors and a special award to her project manager, Lizel van Eeden who she presented with a lovely painting.
“You do not need to be a hostage to use these lessons,” said Strydom.
Strydom spends her time helping trauma victims and helping over 20 000 abused children a year though her charity Matla A Bana.
Details: Matla A Bana project manager Lizel van Eeden, matla@mweb.co.za or 073 171 1031.
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