Life Orientation resources for South African teachers

For many Americans, a heat wave means iced drinks and frozen treats.

But across parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, people still drink hot tea, eat steaming soup and pile chiles onto their food.

It sounds like the last thing you’d want when temperatures soar.

But is cold food always the smartest way to cool down?

What's it really like growing up in Germany's most expensive city? Meet Vici – a 16-year-old from Munich who dreams of becoming a musical theater performer. From cycling through the English Garden to river surfing in the Eisbach, from ballet class to Knödel dinners with her family – this is her real, unfiltered day.
Munich might be famous for Oktoberfest and beer halls, but for young locals like Vici, it's a city full of energy, safety and unexpected adventures. She shows us what "Minga" really feels like when the tourists aren't watching.

Ariana Grande says she is stepping back from public life for mental health reasons after years of intense public scrutiny. The announcement has raised wider questions about celebrity mental health, public pressure, and the demands of life in the spotlight.
We spoke to LA-based entertainment reporter KJ Matthews about Grande's decision and the impact of constant public attention on mental wellbeing.

John Oliver discusses AI chatbots, why they’re flirting with users unprompted and encouraging people to open soggy cereal cafes, and how their flaws can be genuinely hazardous to the public.

Tens of thousands of Africans have left South Africa in recent weeks as anti-migrant sentiment and protests continue. Some spent years building lives and raising families there. Many find starting over in their home countries difficult.

Sean talks with writer and philosopher Ian Bogost about his new book The Small Stuff. They discuss what modern life has lost in its pursuit of convenience, efficiency, and optimization. From stick shifts to coffee cups, lawnmowers, and smartphones, Bogost argues that many of the small sensory experiences that once connected us to the physical world have quietly disappeared.

I pushed my body to the edge in a climate & sports research lab to discover what extreme heat really does to us. Why humidity, not just temperature, can make heat deadly, and how climate change and city design are making dangerous heat more common.

Is Gen Z the dumbest generation? We're looking into the Reverse Flynn Effect and the claims that for the first time ever, younger generations are stupider.

Israel has allowed much-needed food aid to flow into Gaza as the first phase of its ceasefire with Hamas continues to hold. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it's seeing a positive impact across all parts of the territory. But with the next phase of the ceasefire still in doubt, many Palestinians worry the relief is only temporary.

There’s a common idea that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become great at something. From an early age, we are encouraged to choose our path, focus specifically, and start racking up those hours. But, what if these head starts aren’t helping us the way we think they do? What if there’s a better way to excel? David Epstein shares how a different approach could set us up for greater success.

For people with autism, recognizing a smile or enjoying a touch is often not possible. More and more people, especially children, are being diagnosed with "autism spectrum disorder”, a complex neurological condition.

While many rush to create new realities with AI video tools, creative director Matan Cohen Grumi is focused on reimagining the one we're already living in. By blending the real and unreal, he shows how everyday photos are transformed into playful, deeply human videos — from inflating office supplies to an alien pizza landing in New Jersey. Watch how AI can enhance stories by reflecting our imagination, not replacing it. (Recorded at TED2025 on April 10, 2025)

Digital strategist Deja Foxx went viral for speaking up at a town meeting — and then learned the harsh cost of being in social media’s crosshairs. She welcomes us to the “girl internet,” a growing ecosystem of women-led platforms that prioritize privacy, community and respect. "We’re building a new, better way of being online, no matter your generation or your gender," she says. (Recorded at TED2025 on April 10, 2025)

What does faith look like for Gen Z today?
In this episode of “Young and Faithful” we meet Josephine, a 22-year-old student from the Netherlands, who shares why Christianity – and Protestantism in particular – plays such an important role in her daily life. From feeling alone in her beliefs at school to finding community through church and music, Josephine opens up about her relationship with God, the role of prayer, and how faith helps her navigate stress, purpose and meaning.
What role does religion play in your life? Let us know in the comments.

Hundreds of thousands have turned out for the Hamburg Pride march amid heightened police security in Germany's 2nd biggest city. The parade went ahead one week after a 21-year-old drove a van into a crowd at Berlin's Pride event, killing one and injuring 29. DW reports from the Hamburg parade.

European Union interior ministers are set to hold a crisis meeting to discuss migration. It follows last week's rush of migrants into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. The sudden arrival of tens of thousands of people over two days sparked a humanitarian crisis in Ceuta and reignited the immigration debate in the bloc.

Hundreds of migrants remain in Ceuta waiting to find out what happens next, with many camping on the beaches and their future in the hands of authorities. Twenty-nine-year-old Ahmed Haroun, originally from Sudan's Darfur region, is one of them. He said he has been trying to reach Europe for four years to help his surviving family members, having lost many relatives already. "I will fight for them. I will do anything just to help them," he said. He said he had achieved his dream by reaching Ceuta and is not afraid of being deported. "Everyone here just died one time. No one can die two times," he said. He expressed hope for a humanitarian response, saying they are waiting to hear what authorities will decide.

Vivian Wang, a New York Times correspondent, was expelled from China as part of Beijing’s crackdown on foreign journalists. She describes how a pressure campaign by the authorities there made it challenging to do her job.

Neele Buchholz is an actress and dancer. She has Down syndrome and regularly encounters barriers in the entertainment industry. Even so, she is determined to work as an independent artist.

For decades, one man was blamed for bringing AIDS to America. But the "Patient Zero" story was wrong. This is the story of how genetic detective work traced HIV's true origins—from chimpanzees in Central Africa to a global pandemic—and how science unraveled one of the biggest myths in modern medicine.

Body dysmorphia is an overwhelming obsession with body image — and it affects millions of us. 

The Trump administration must take action this week to restart the nation's largest anti-hunger program despite the government shutdown. That's according to a federal judge—who ordered emergency funds be tapped—after the food aid program that feeds 42 million Americans ran out of money on Saturday. But it's unclear how or when the emergency money will be disbursed—nor how long it will last.

Israel’s war has devastated Gaza’s education system, leaving classrooms destroyed and lessons held in tents and makeshift shelters.
Teachers struggle to continue lessons under harsh conditions, with trauma and displacement affecting both learning and focus.
Hundreds of schools have been damaged or flattened, including many run by UNRWA.

Palestinians in central Gaza have gathered at the inaugural Gaza International Film Festival for Women’s Cinema to watch Voice of Hind Rajab — an award-winning documentary about six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces last year.