A values-based lifestyle and relationship programme for teenagers.
LoveMatters is a Monday-to-Friday residential educational programme for teenagers, hosted at the Don Bosco Centre near Walkerville, Gauteng. The programme offers young people a safe, engaging, and values-driven space to explore relationships, identity, responsibility, and personal choices.
Presented by:
A team of Salesians of Don Bosco, trained peer ministers, and invited professionals experienced in youth development, health, and education.
LoveMatters aims to:
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Support young people to grow healthy, happy, and confident
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Offer values-based sexuality and relationship education
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Encourage responsible decision-making and respect for self and others
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Promote life-giving choices that protect physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing
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Address challenges such as peer pressure, HIV/AIDS, STDs, and early pregnancies through education and reflection
The programme invites participants to reflect deeply on love, dignity, freedom, and long-term life goals.
Our Facilities
- Hall with Auditorium – 100 people
- Hall with Auditorium – 300 people
- 3 Conference Rooms
- All equipped with Audio Visual equipment
- Smaller Breakaway rooms available
- Dormitories
- For large and small groups – 20 to 300 people
- Rinaldi – 20 double en-suite chalets all offering stunning views of the charming countryside
- Becchi – 9 double rooms all with en-suite bathrooms, a conference room, and a lounge with a cozy fireplace, perfect for relaxed evenings.
- Dining Room and Tuck Shop
- All meals provided by our Catering Department
- Cutlery and crockery provided
- Obstacle Course
- Swimming Pool and Braai Stands
- Sports
- Gift Shop
- Chapel
Our Programmes
Your Programme
Your Own Programme
We offer the option for your group to use our facilities while running your own programme. This includes the use of our conferencing venues, accommodation and catering, recreation facilities, and ecology/veld walks. Our facilities are extremely suitable for camps of all types – summer, winter, sports etc.
Leadership Programmes
Your Programme
We offer leadership programmes from Friday – Sunday. The focus of these programmes is leadership, teambuilding and life skills.
Retreats
Retreats
We offer a variety of different Retreats run by our Youth Ministry Team.
- School Grade Retreats
- 1st Communion
- 1st Confessions
- 1st year Confirmation
- Final Confirmation
- Altar Servers Retreats
- General Retreats
LoveMatters
LoveMatters
Purpose:
- To help young people to be healthy, happy, holy, and sexy!
- To provide value-based sexuality education – by the use of relevant and reliable facts and information – to teenagers and help them appreciate and understand the gift of sex and its role within the marriage.
- To combat the spread of HIV/AIDS by promoting abstinence as an alternative to the safe-sex option.
LoveMatters takes place in a completely non-judgmental setting and is aimed at young people who:
- Want a better understanding of their own sexuality.
- Desire to grow free to say NO to negative peer pressure.
- Are looking for a 100% effective, safe and non-costly way to avoid the enormous risk of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as premature pregnancies.
- Are keen to be part of the post-AIDS generation and set new trends for modern teens.
- Wish more support in their commitment to true values.
- Yearn to be affirmed in their resolution to save sex for marriage.
- Want reasons why they should not be sexually active in their teens.
- May have made poor choices but want to make a fresh start.
- Wish to lay solid foundations for their future marriage/vocation in life.