“I recently participated in the SAYes Mentor Training Course, and it was an incredible experience! The materials were thoughtfully designed, and Andrew’s way of delivering the content was so engaging and easy to follow. The peer practice sessions were invaluable. I came away not just with new skills but also with a deeper understanding of myself. SAYes is doing wonderful work, and I’m so excited to continue on this journey.”
“I never imagined mentoring could be so detailed and specific. The introduction classes online were like doing a university lecture course. They were so rewarding and filled with such care and consideration. It was also an opportunity to learn and work with some amazing mentor trainees—new friends from across the world.”
“This organization is exceptionally good at what it does. The training made clear that this project is not about giving vague career advice or well-intentioned networking opportunities—it is about understanding the science of social disadvantage and using the psychology of conversation and relationship building to overcome it. I am genuinely blown away. Thank you to Andrew, whose unrivaled commitment to this project beams out through his uplifting, generous, and inclusive teaching style.”
“The SAYes Mentor Course is a thoughtful and practical program that truly prepares you to support a young person. It covers key skills like building trust, active listening, and setting boundaries, with a strong focus on empathy and real-life application. The content is engaging and reflective, making you feel prepared and confident as a mentor. Highly recommended!”
“The training delivered by Andrew was, by far, one of the best training programs I have taken part in. It is engaging, informative, and helps one break so many paradigms—about oneself, about social change, and about how each of us can engage in this journey from an informed and grounded perspective.”
“I had such a wonderful experience and loved every bit of my interview with Bridget. I felt like I had known her for a long time! She was very kind and sensitive throughout the process and gave me chances to ask questions where I wasn’t clear, and she gave thorough responses. I am excited to embark on this journey with SAYes!”
“I enjoyed a very thorough, professional and informative interview with Andrew. SAYes takes their role and that of prospective mentors very seriously, but the conversation was delivered in a warm and engaging manner. Long interviews can be tough, but this was a positive experience with a huge amount of valuable information and perspective shared.”
“ The interview provided valuable insight into the role of mentoring and the expectations of SAYes, in a very professional manner. The interview was also a good opportunity to assess oneself. I left the interview feeling inspired and hopeful to become a mentor.”
“Andrews command, knowledge and experience comes through in bucket loads. His skill as a teacher, communicator and guide are extraordinary. The actual material left me both intimidated and excited, for the first time I felt as if I might actually be able to guide another in a way that is authentic and genuine, instead of guessing my way through and hoping for the best! One of the most surprising things for me was how relevant the material was to my own life.”
“ My interview with Andrew was probably one of the best and most thorough interviews I had in my entire life. He has incredible interpersonal skills. His insight, knowlegde and passion for the vulnerable youth left me feeling inspired and super-excited to get involved with SAYes. I’m looking forward to equipping myself through this program to be of better service to others.”
“I was delighted to be contacted for an interview following my application with SAYes. The interview was very well structure to ensure not only the process, but also the mentoring program was fully explained. Andrew’s manner was very positive and friendly making me immediately relaxed and putting me at ease. The interview provided a great insight into the program and so I hope and look forward to joining the SAYes within the mentoring program.”
“The longer I stay with the program, the more I realise how much there is to learn about being a mentor. This is where my transition specialist’s support, knowledge and experience have been invaluable in helping me become a better mentor. She guided me through the program, and managed the ITPs (Individual transition plan) between myself and my mentee like a true professional. I can also highly commend her patience with me every week when she has to repeatedly remind me to fill in the ITP log :)”
“I’ve been with SAYes for a few years now and my transition specialist is knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, and compassionate and loves the very difficult work that she does. The world needs more Bridgets!”
“A special call-out also to my transition specialist. She has been an amazing support. The way she guided us so effortlessly and helped build the connection between myself and the mentee. The way she helped us navigate the journey with guidance on great conversation starters and context gleaning. Her effortless ability to look at the broader picture and ask the right questions was truly astounding. I have learned so much from her”
“Another incredible event!! I thrive in community so this was bliss for me. Also, what an honor to see Michelle Potter there, I really wanted to meet her! I loved seeing a lot more people since the last event and learning more about the amazing things SAYes is doing. Mai’s presentation was informative and she is just a wonderful and joyful spirit. I enjoyed exchanging stories with my group and meeting new people. These meetings are so valuable and a great way for us to connect during these times. I look forward to the next one!.”
“It was a honor being invited to the #CEP meeting.”
“The partnership between SAYes and SOS Children’s Home is very good because our youth love the mentoring sessions with professional mentors who mentor them with respect and UNDERSTANDING – which is key. Youth are dying for adults to understand them which is not easy nowadays.”
Youth Development Coordinator | SOS Children's Village, Cape Town
“SAYes’ unwavering commitment to youth development has not only aligned seamlessly with our organisational objectives but has significantly enhanced them. Our mission is to empower school leavers with the essential life skills required to understand and embrace independence, ultimately enabling them to transition successfully from alternative care.
The SAYes mentorship program plays a pivotal role in bridging critical support gaps. Mentors consistently demonstrate dedication by being present, offering guidance, and fostering enduring relationships that extend beyond the formal care environment.
The enthusiasm with which our youth engage in the SAYes program is a testament to its impact. Feedback consistently highlights the transformative role mentors play in their lives, reinforcing the value and effectiveness of this partnership.”
Manager: Professional Services | Durbanville Children's Home
“SAYes engages with a level of professionalism and accountability that is best in class in this industry, something I have sung the org’s praises on in several forums”
Social and Community Impact | Nike, Inc.
“This partnership has been a catalyst for transformative growth, not only for the young people who have gained invaluable guidance through mentorship, but also for both Home from Home and SAYes, as we expand our collective reach to uplift even more lives. I have deeply valued the spirit of collaboration, the consistent flow of information, and the united effort toward a shared vision: supporting young people to transition with purpose, access vital resources, and step confidently into a future filled with possibility.”
Social Worker / Youth Transitional Practitioner | Home from Home
“Over the past few years, St Michael’s CYCC has had the privilege of partnering with the SAYES Mentoring Programme. This partnership has provided vital support to our youth, both during their time in care and as they transition out. The programme has opened many doors for them and helped them achieve significant personal milestones.”
Programme Coordinator | St. Michael's Child & Youth Care Centre
“I think what SAYes is doing kind of feels like you’re ahead of the game in the sense that you’re creating an opportunity to engage with young people positively in the digital space. It takes a village to raise a child and I want to thank you for being part of our little village in Lewisham, for supporting our young people, giving them the opportunity to engage with people from different parts of the world to improve their social mobility.”
Lewisham Council Commissioning Officer
“At LSEG Foundation, we believe in the power of mentorship. It’s not about advice—it’s about building trust, confidence, and opportunity. SAYes is doing incredible work supporting young people as they transition out of care, and their mission aligns closely with our values: youth empowerment, social mobility, and sustainable impact.”
LSEG Foundation Senior Associate
Since SAYes Mentoring began in 2008, we have:
52% “life-changing”, 38% “much positive impact” and 9% “some positive impact”. Similar figures were reported in 2020 / 2021 Annual Reports.
Ratings of more than 87% positive impact were achieved for all 5 of the domains:
Ratings of over 92% positive impact were achieved across all 5 domains:
45% “life-changing”, 44% “much positive”, 11% “some positive”. SAYes achieved a near identical result in 2020 / 2021 Annual Report
The largest impact within decision-making was in focus and the ability to adjust to feedback and setbacks at 100% positive impact:
75% “yes – a lot more conscious than before” and, 75% “yes – a lot more focused than before”.
74% “I love SAYes”, 18% “Really good feeling”, 8% “Good feeling”. SAYes achieved similar results in 2020 / 2021 Annual Reports.
“It’s the first NPO that was actually interested in the progress of the people it targeted, unlike others who do it just for show. It provided people the opportunity to make lifetime friends across oceans and wouldn’t have even been in their dreams had it not.”
– SAYes Mentee
“It was exactly what I expected it to be, it was the thing I needed to push me to my limit.”
– SAYes Mentee
31% ‘Extensively’, 63% ‘A lot’, and 6% ‘a little’
100% of mentors believe the programme realistically achieved the aim of inspiring and informing leaders of social change:
41% ‘Extensively’, 59% ‘A lot’
100% of mentors said the programme led to positive life outcomes for their mentee:
29% ‘Extensively’, 65% ‘A lot’, 6% ‘moderately’
“Seeing my mentee’s mentality about life changing was a constant motivation to be present to their journey… Feeling the impact I had on someone’s life made the level of responsibility I carry in my community clear to me.”
Personally: 33% ‘Life-changing’, 60% ‘Much positive’, 7% ‘Some positive’. Professionally: 31% ‘Life-changing’, 28% ‘Much positive’, 31% ‘Some positive’.
100% of mentors reported an improvement in their mentoring knowledge and skills.
100% of mentors became more comfortable with social and cultural diversity:
29% ‘Extensively’, 29% ‘A lot’, 24% ‘A moderate amount’, 18% ‘ A little’
“I am a better manager, more present, aware, and able to ask the right questions. In my personal life, I became someone that listens more and keeps an open mind, without judgement and trying always to understand the other person’s point of view.”
Within a leadership self-assessment, mentors scored their ability to motivate others to act strategically as most impacted (92%)
100% of mentors said they would be interested in mentoring again with SAYes.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed connecting with someone at the other side of the world, in a completely different contextual environment, at a different stage in life.We still managed to find common ground to discuss / share perspective / build options within themes that were important to them.
“The way I approach my challenges the tools are phenomenal and easy to apply. This has changed the way I deal and approach people especially when faced with difficult situations.”
A custom e-mentorship programme with
“Thank you for this opportunity. We both always looked forward to our weekly connections and even though I was the mentor, my mentee was also very inspiring to me!”
26.5 mentorship hours – Belgium
“Having a mentor who listened, asked meaningful questions and offered actionable advice helped me discover pathways I hadn’t considered.”
24 years old – south africa
A global e-mentorship programme for
“I’ve been completely surprised by just how much I’ve enjoyed this process; how much Aisha and I genuinely enjoy having a laugh with each other. I wasn’t expecting that.”
28 mentorship hours – SOUTH AFRICA
“Having a mentor has been a game-changer. I’ve been amazed by the impact Louise has had on my life.”
20 years old – south africa
A custom e-mentorship programme with
“My reason for becoming a mentor was the realisation that life is hard and messy enough when you have help and support, let alone without it.“
29.5 mentorship hours – Belgium
“My mentor and I worked together, seeing ourselves as problem solvers, always trying to figure out how to make what seemed impossible, possible.”
21 years old – south africa
A global e-mentorship programme for
“I see this as an opportunity to be to a young person what I would’ve wanted someone to be for me.”
10 mentorship hours – CANADA
“I feel very fortunate to be able to access this – not a lot of people get this kind of opportunity.”
20 years old – united kingdom
A global e-mentorship programme for
“The structured yet flexible nature of the SAYes programme makes the relationship a sustainable one and easier to commit to.”
21 mentorship hours – UNITED KINGDOM
“My experience of mentorship so far has been life changing in so many ways and this is probably the best thing I’ve ever signed up for.”
17 years old – united kingdom
A custom e-mentorship programme with
“The Programme gives you great tools to guide a mentee in the best way possible and teaches you so much about yourself too.”
18 mentorship hours – GERMANY
“I feel a lot more confident in my ability to manoeuvre in the world and will continue to act on advice given by my mentor.”
22 years old – united kingdom
