tertiary students in south africa
“For me personally and professionally, I’ve learnt to talk less and listen more.”
HLENGIWE, ap mentor
“The mentorship has enabled me to better train and mentor my junior colleagues.”
ap mentor
SAYes monitors programme rollout extensively, gathering weekly data on number of mentoring sessions, contact hours and challenges. We report quantitatively on this data at 3-month intervals, and provide additional qualitative analysis of meeting challenges and Individual Transition Plan content aggregated by domain. We also request programme ratings and reviews from participating youth partners.
2023 AP pilot PROGRAMME impact (mentors)
of AP mentors said “mentoring positively impacted their professional life.”
of AP mentors are now more comfortable navigating diversity
We assess 10 components of inclusive leadership skills and personal qualities. Consistently high scoring components across partner programmes include: ‘envisioning futures & motivating others to act strategically’ • ‘appreciation and respect for different perspectives and backgrounds’ • ‘coping with uncertainty’.
“It was wonderful to find out more about the mentee’s family traditions and culture. So different to mine. Yet, as human beings, we have the same basic needs and aspirations.”
ap mentor
“I take myself a bit more seriously now in the realisation of the tangible value I am able to add in the lives of others. The support in terms of the ITP has also aided me with a structure for how to bring about this type of change.”
ap mentor
“Having a mentor helped me get into a different mental health place by finding a way to cope. I no longer feel alone, and have gone from feeling hopeless to hopeful.”
ap menTEE
“SAYes has been essential to both my career growth and personal life. Its influence is still having an impact, and I am incredibly appreciative of the good things it has done for me. I’ve become a better communicator, developed a good outlook, and gained confidence thanks to the program’s ongoing support and direction…I am an improved version of myself.”
ap menTEE
Mentoring profoundly changes lives. From relationships at home and at work to your sense of fulfilment, purpose, and enjoyment in life, the Alternative Prosperity mentoring programme will help you to design and action your personal transition plan (your life plan). You’ll work at your own pace, with the support of your own mentor, focussed on improving your independence and well-being. Mentoring will help you discover what is next for you in life with a mentor to guide, champion and support you every step of the way.
2022 AP pilot PROGRAMME impact(MENTEES)
of AP mentees said “mentoring positively impacted both their independence and well-being.”
STEP 1
Interview & Training
with SAYes Liaison Teams
STEP 2
with special guests
STEP 3
Weekly 1-hour mentoring sessions
STEP 4
Four 1-hour sessions with SAYes Transition Teams
to support mentee & mentor in the development of the mentee’s life plan
STEP 5
Attend Online Monthly Workgroups, Support Group and Masterclasses
with special guests
Graduation event
with special guests
STEP 7
Join the official SAYes Alumni Group
Free, and on WhatsApp
STEP 8
Optional Ambassador and Liaison opportunities
“I gained a huge amount of confidence in the last couple of months. I think the mentoring is superb; that is a very big plus as well. During our sessions, she broadened my horizons, managed my expectations, and increased my confidence. She has encouraged and supported me in my daily work. It is really empowering and helpful to have an experienced Mentor who does not have any agenda on my career, ambitions, or choices. I can talk totally openly and ask for honest feedback. She has no concern that I take anything the wrong way, or that anything is too harsh as we both know she is not involved in decisions about my future progression.”
ap menTEE
“The presence of a mentor who actively listens, guides, and supports my goals, ensuring their achievement, has proven to be life changing for me, particularly as an individual who lacked intrinsic motivation. Before I was part of SAYes, I lacked a structured approach to setting and pursuing goals. However, the impact of having a mentor in my life has been transformative.”
ap mentee
At SAYes, the mentoring journey is a transformational experience for both mentees and mentors. It fosters personal growth, accountability, and the ability to navigate life’s challenges with confidence. We spoke to Simosihlengiwe Mncube, a mentee in the SAYes programme, and Hlengiwe Zulu, a mentor, to understand the impact of mentorship from both perspectives.
Throughout South Africa, many NGO’s do foundational work with communities by engaging young people as agents of change. Many of the graduates of these programmes have aspirations towards further education, but face significant obstacles. AP supports their educational journey through the AP e-Mentoring programme with SAYes Mentoring. These young leaders experience the life-changing impact of one-one mentorships, strengthening their futures and the future of their communities.
SAYes and AP recognise that post-programme initiatives are highly valuable and yet often underutilised aspects of social and community impact work. Skilfully crafted, post-programme support, can provide routes to sustainability and, crucially, can leverage the considerable good will, lived-experience, knowledge and skills generated within a programme cycle to further social and community impact. This is especially true in mentorship programmes where the generous sharing of perspective, support and social capital often translates into a strong desire to pass on this growth (and opportunity) through both small acts of kindness, as well as through innovative social change initiatives sparked by the experience.
The AP post-programme model is focused on fostering supportive communities invested in each other’s growth, and building networks that empower, inspire, innovate and take action. We aim to create lasting impact, continuing the cycle of mentorship and mutual support beyond each year of the AP e-Mentorship programme.
The AP Programme regularly hosts networking events connecting current mentors and mentees with the wider network of AP alumni. We also engage alumni in ambassador and advisory roles each year improving the next iteration of the AP programmes.
SAYes is committed to bringing the best social change experience to business teams across the globe, and to helping corporate partners improve the impact of their social change investments, tractably, sustainably and at scale. Our Partner Programmes connect your business teams with young people through mentorship, and are built to deliver the skills, values and vision of purpose leadership, while also achieving powerful employee engagement with social and community impact benefits.
