Choices as a product, service and brand began where much of the work done by Align-Ed in the arena of Transformative Learning began, at Maropeng iAfrika in 2014. 

At the time, Lindsay Marshall was the Acting General Manager of Maropeng and called Angela James from Align-Ed in to address the challenges that Maropeng was experiencing with their young team members. 

Whilst the technical, qualifications based learning and completion of their qualifications requirements had been met, as well as all of the compliance checks and balances completed, the young members of the team still needed to understand, internalise and demonstrate that they were a part of a brand and culture.  

The brand and culture had been worked on for many years by the management team and Align-Ed. This had been under the capable leadership of Tony Rubin, a part of the strategic focus and development of the business as a tourism destination in the United Nations World Heritage Site of The Cradle of Humankind. 

The mandate given by Lindsay, was to address the fact that these young people by accepting a position at Maropeng, had in her words, CHOSEN, to be a part of the brand. They needed to either choose to fit in and compliment the brand and the experience offering for the guests to Maropeng and the Scientific Community, the other major stakeholder at Maropeng, or they would be required to leave. 

It was off this brief that Choices was born. The original product developed encompassed a full one day workshop which included what is now the Choices Board Game™. 

What is Choices?

The concept of choice, is one which is fundamental to the principle of democracy. There is equity in the principle, and we each, all of us, make hundreds of choices each day. As a democratic principle (and not as a system of politics or government), Choice is a gift that is bestowed upon each of us and underpinning our choices is the responsibility that we each have for the choices and the consequences of our choices. 

The learning content of the Choices Edutainment Experience addressed a number of the issues dealt with in the organisation from the team members and set up the development of additional learning content and product relevant to the different levels within any organisation. 

Choice is a fundamental principle that is relevant and pertinent to any situation in which we find ourselves and provides us with a framework in which to live responsible, contributory lives. Choice is common to all – it cuts across race, gender, age, culture, religion and is one of the elements that forms that backbone of social cohesion and nation building. 

And so, Choices from its humble beginnings began a journey into a number of different spaces – for profit and not for profit. It has been applied to different industries and across a number of different contexts and is highly adaptable and customisable to any situation in which choices need to be made.