SAYes ANNUAL REPORT 2016
INSPIRING LEADERS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
“MY MENTOR WAS A VERY STRONG FIGURE IN MY LIFE. HE REALLY PUSHED ME AND I REALLY APPRECIATED IT. I NEVER REALLY HAD SOMEONE TAKE SO MUCH INTEREST IN ME.” – SAYes MENTEE
OUR MENTORS DEBBIE SAMPSON DEBBIE IS A SPEAKER AND MOTIVATOR WHO THRIVES WHEN OTHERS GROW. “After achieving success professionally, I was keen to give back to my community. I wanted to be personally involved in seeing my contribution make a difference. At times my mentee and I have experienced some sharp turns as we have discovered the many ways in which being a child in care has effects. With the help of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy we’ve found an outlet for her to grow socially, have fun and learn new skills. Being there to see her receive her first certificate took this mentorship journey to a new level. I feel fulfilled and my mentee is thriving.” 2
ANTONIO DANIELS ANTONIO RUNS A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT. “I began mentoring with SAYes because I wanted to add value to the life of a young person. Mentoring isn’t always easy, but always rewarding. Our meaningful and in-depth talks challenged me to take stock of what is important in life and to prioritise. We have focused on the importance of achieving small goals in order to fulfil the bigger vision. After all the trials, hard work and dedication, my mentee was accepted into the Western Province rugby team, and has been approached by Wynberg Boys High. I couldn’t be any prouder. Bokke here we come!”
CONTENTS OUR MENTORS......................................................2 INTRODUCTION.....................................................4 THE NEED........................................................4 HOW SAYES MEETS THE NEED .....................4 OUR IMPACT (2010 – 2016)...........................5
MENTOR - MENTEE STORY LYSETTE AND HAYLEY.................................16 PARTNER HOMES HEATHERDALE..............................................18 SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES..........................18
MICHELLE POTTER................................................6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................20
GILLIAN ANDERSON.............................................7
FUNDING PARTNERS...........................................21
THOUGHTS ON OUR PROGRAMME....................8
RESOURCE PARTNERS.........................................21
2016 OUTCOMES..................................................9
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SAYES!.....................22
OUR RESULTS........................................................9
MYSCHOOL MYVILLAGE MYPLANET................23
MENTOR - MENTEE STORY BERTIN AND RICHARD.................................10 MATCH STATISTICS..............................................12 OUR MENTORS....................................................12 2016 FINANCIAL REVIEW...................................13 EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING ..............................14
“HAVING THAT ONE PERSON WHO IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU, HER JUST BEING THERE HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO ME.” – SAYes MENTEE
JANICE FOSTER
ED BEUKES
JANICE IS AN ENGINEER WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HOPING TO INSPIRE.
ED WORKS AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER AND CREATIVE IN THE MODELLING INDUSTRY.
“Having previously been involved in volunteer tutoring programmes, I started mentoring with SAYes hoping to have a more personal impact. I have really enjoyed getting to know my mentee and it has been great to see her grow over the course of the year. Together we have focused on her schoolwork and her career aspirations, and visited the College of Cape Town open day to see what was on offer. We have also done a Parkrun together where her finishing time put me to shame. Thanks to the SAYes team who have provided fantastic support throughout the year.”
“We cannot wait on the change that we seek in our country, but that we must rather become it. With a focus directed on the next generation, SAYes became the vehicle in which I could help change a young person’s life. My journey so far is a bit like spaghetti bolognaise! Initially I was a little indifferent and cold - wrapped up in my own plastic world until SAYes helped me out of my comfort zone. Though the sessions with my mentee can become messy, I always drive home leaving satisfied. Who knows, this dish might one day be served up to the president!”
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THE NEED
HOW SAYes MEETS THE NEED
More than 15,000 young people are living in registered children’s homes in South Africa, typically placed there by the courts due to abuse, neglect, abandonment or displacement.
• SAYes aims to combat inequality and promote social change through mentorship for South Africa’s most vulnerable young people – inspiring leaders of social change.
Young people living in institutional care often become marginalised from their communities and are massively underprepared for life outside of a children’s home. In South Africa, government support stops at the age of 18 and there is currently no transitional support for these young people when they are then required to leave the homes.
• We provide evidence-based programmes delivered on a transition platform called TIL - Transition to Independent Living. • All programmes run on the TIL platform are designed to improve independence and well-being for transition age youth, using trained mentors as the key catalysts for change. • We provide a professional and personalised service to volunteers interested in putting their life experiences into invaluable mentorships.
PHASE A
SAYes Transition to Independent Living (TIL) Youth Mentoring Programme Mentee Recruitment
Partner Recruitment
Mentor Recruitment
Programme Training
Partner Training
Programme Training
Matching Self Evaluation & Development Workshops (SED 1,2,3)
PHASE B
Key Outcomes Workshops (KTO 1,2,3,4,5) Match Support Closure
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Graduation PHASE C
SAYes TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT LIVING (TIL) YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMME
Alumni Group
“I ENJOYED HAVING SOMEONE IN MY LIFE I COULD TRUST.” – SAYes MENTEE
• Our Care programmes match volunteer mentors with young people who are preparing to or have recently transitioned out of government care. • SAYes acts as a partner and guide for each mentor-mentee pair, providing ongoing training and support, and targeted intervention content (principles, tactics and tools) to accelerate effective and meaningful transitions. • Our programme support specialists also source information, opportunities and resources for the matches through our network of business and nonprofit partners. • Volunteer mentors and mentees meet for weekly face-to-face meetings over a period of nine months, and attend monthly SAYes transition workshops. • By sharing their perspective and providing consistent advocacy and support, volunteer mentors empower mentees with the skills and approach needed to thrive as adults. • In addition to mastery/achievement domains our mentors also address the healthy practices required for social, emotional, physical, cognitive and identity health. Mentees learn to discover and expand strengths, set and pursue goals, become conscious of their context and ensure accountability. • Mentors also benefit themselves in doing social change, through a unique experience that provides community engagement, personal growth and meaningful connection. • The SAYes network of corporate, NPO and community partners provide support through specialized mentorship workshops, funding and resources.
OUR IMPACT (2010 – 2016)
9,783 mentoring hours with 281 mentees. Supported 408 matches and trained over 368 mentors since our founding. Programme alumni have launched successful careers in hospitality, retail and in the corporate world. 11% mentor re-enrolment and 36% mentee re-enrolment from 2015 to 2016, 87% 2016 graduation rate. Formal evaluation of programme outcomes for young people conducted in partnership with multiple academic institutions and the Global Youth Mentoring Network. Success is measured using psychometric scores, tracked progress toward personally defined goals, and comparisons with relevant community indicators. 5
MICHELLE POTTER DEAR FRIENDS, Last year, 2016, was another incredible year for SAYes, filled with stories of young people whose self-esteem and confidence grew in parallel with the possibilities for their futures.
encouraging their clients who are going into retirement and have time on their hands to sign up and Chef Deon from The Belmond Mount Nelson signed up as a mentor for 2017.
We welcomed three new board members, all of them mentors in our programme: Palesa Nkabane, Mashudu Matshili and Richard Butterfield. We said goodbye to Gail Curtis and Mfundo Galada after years of their service and incredible support to our team.
This report will provide a more detailed account of the year. We hope you’ll enjoy reading the stories and perspectives from our beneficiaries.
We had our first mentor networking events, thank you to sponsors, The Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel and Netto Invest. We realised the importance of giving mentors the opportunity to network and connect over their shared experience of SAYes. We also started to focus on securing business partners, and approached businesses that support staff volunteerism and youth development. The Netto Invest staff are 6
We really cannot fully express our gratitude to our supporters, without whom there would be no SAYes. We rely totally on the generosity of you all and I am constantly amazed that we can continue to do the work that we do because you believe in us. Please visit us next time you are in Cape Town.
Warm regards,
Michelle Potter, Executive Director
DEAR SUPPORTERS, What a thrilling year for SAYes! At the start of it, Michelle and Andrew joined me at St Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn New York to host a benefit in support of the 2017 mentor mentee matches. The evening was a wonderful success, with special thanks to Susan Feldman and her team at the theatre for their generous support and to Elisabeth de Kergorlay of Babeth’s Feast who provided the delicious food. I was especially pleased to meet SAYes supporters from all over the world, impressed by your insightful questions and deeply grateful to those who went on to make further donations to the charity. What a treat to discover a donation-led selfie line around the theatre all in support of SAYes! Also in NY, our good friend Elisabeth hosted an intimate lunch at her home, where a handful of friends joined us to learn more about the impact of mentoring in Cape Town and beyond. We are so grateful to the dedicated girls at X-Philanthropy who ran two eBay auctions: one for my birthday and one for Christmas. They raised 1,450 Euros!
GILLIAN ANDERSON
And a very big thank you to the extremely productive, proactive and generous Julie Baron for helping with the sale of my clothes along with everyone who purchased them in support of SAYes! And thank you also to the consistent bids from women specifically who end up winning set visits. We had one in 2015 on the set of the X-Files and in 2016 on the set of The Fall. Let us know if anyone would like to go on the list for future potential visits! They raise substantial, much needed funds. I am very happy to report that the young people in our programmes in South Africa continue to make meaningful strides towards independence with the help of their mentors. We simply must continue our work to inspire the next generation of leaders for social change. Thanks to you, our cherished supporters, we will continue to ‘do good, better’ as both mentors and mentees inspire us with their commitment, integrity and purpose. Kind regards,
Gillian
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Time is valuable. It’s the most valuable thing we have. In 2016, our mentors gave four and half thousand hours of it to mentoring on the SAYes programmes. Each of the SAYes team also gave time to mentoring, as well as to connecting with mentors and mentees, and to reflecting on how we can improve the quality of the experience for everyone involved. We spent time overseas, in the UK and the US, reaching out to groups who work with young people and with volunteer mentors, just like we do. We learnt tremendously. As SAYes begins to scale we have paused to note this very special time. A time when we are making a sizeable impact whilst still being able to check in with everyone we serve – gaining valuable insight and perspective from each of the individual mentor-mentee journeys we share. We know that it is these journeys that will be imprinted on our programmes for years to come.
We are proud to say SAYes programmes are making an effective difference (see our outcomes). This is important, because as we all are beginning to see, the consequences of failing to inspire leaders of social change are very serious indeed. We are confident to say to our mentors that the time you give to volunteering is effective and meaningful. We are confident to say to our partner homes that the time you give to SAYes programmes is wisely invested in the future of the young people in your care. We know our programmes are rigorously evidence-based and that our support teams are bright, professional and committed. So we are confident to say to our business and non-profit partners that the impact of your support has been dramatically improved by working with young people mentored by SAYes mentors. And we can tell our donors that you have chosen to support philanthropy that works – philanthropy designed to target objectively neglected populations, informed by principles of scale, tractability, effectiveness, sustainability and accountability.
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THOUGHTS ON OUR PROGRAMME We started 2016 with 100 mentor-mentee matches. On November 12th, 87 of those matches graduated successfully. We are so grateful to everyone involved, and especially to those mentors and mentees who endured tremendous hardships but still persevered and honoured their word. Your mentees are now facing the world a little stronger, braver, and a little more independent, than they were yesterday. Perhaps Leonard Cohen puts it best: “Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack, a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in, That’s how the light gets in” – Leonard Cohen, Anthem. As we prepare to scale we are not papering over any cracks. We are looking into them, intent on learning from the light, and on doing good better.
Andrew Dellis, Operations Director
SAYes TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT LIVING (TIL) PROGRAMMES
2016 OUTCOMES WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO The purpose of the SAYes mentoring programmes is to improve independence and well-being for young people living in or recently exited from a Child and Youth Care Centre (Children’s Home). Each mentee meets with a trained volunteer mentor weekly for 9 months. Mentees and their mentors also attend monthly workshops in order to develop and implement a formal transition plan. Personalised intervention and transition support are available and our team work closely with the social workers at the children’s homes.
“MY YEAR HAS BEEN GREAT. I HAVE BEEN SHOWN HOW I CAN BE INDEPENDENT. MY MENTOR STOOD UP FOR ME AND ALWAYS KEPT HER PROMISES. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH THIS YEAR.” – SAYes MENTEE
OUR RESULTS • 87% graduated the SAYes programme in 2016, up 10% from the previous year.
• 49% had a job shadowing or internship opportunity (up from 32% in 2015).
• 21% of mentors are back again in 2017 (up 5% from 2015, and 20% from 2014).
• 81% of mentees are not using drugs (including alcohol) in a harmful manner. 78% of mentees are not using cigarettes.
• 44% of mentees have re-enrolled (up 4% from 2015 & 2016). • 81% successfully completed an education grade/level (up from 74% in 2015). • The 14 mentees in their final year all passed their final exams. However, only 16% obtained a university pass (down from 38% in 2015). • 33% of graduating matriculants are now studying at a university or at a vocational college while 25% of matriculants are employed.
• 46% of the graduating mentees are still living in care in 2017. 54% have returned to the community, one is homeless while the whereabouts of a further two are unknown. • Of the graduating mentees one has subsequently been arrested, and a further three are thought to be engaging in criminal activities. One mentee became pregnant during the 2016 programme year.
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“FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, THE ONLY SPORT I LOVED WAS FOOTBALL, I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD END UP ENJOYING CYCLING JUST AS MUCH.” – BERTIN
RICHARD AND BERTIN BEGAN BUILDING THEIR MENTORING RELATIONSHIP OVER THEIR SHARED INTERESTS OF STAYING ACTIVE AND THE OUTDOORS.
Initially, they spent their time together hiking, but through conversations on those hikes, Bertin quickly realized that Richard’s true passion was cycling, and Bertin became curious. It wasn’t long before they began to plan their first ride together.
almost every week. They cycled long, beautiful and sometimes mountainous stretches of South Africa’s Western Cape including Hout Bay and Chapman’s Peak. Eventually they built up to 25km rides, then 45km rides, and so on.
Richard, being an avid long-distance cyclist for years, thought he’d better go easy on Bertin, who had almost no experience with a bicycle. He planned an easy beginner ride around town, and figured he would try to ride much slower than usual so Bertin wouldn’t fall too far behind.
“For most of my life, the only sport I loved was football,” Bertin explained. “I never imagined I would end up enjoying cycling just as much.”
But Richard was in for a fun surprise. Starting from that first ride, Bertin was perfectly comfortable on the bicycle and had no trouble keeping up. He showed no signs of being intimidated by hills or tricky portions of the road. In fact, on some stretches, he zoomed right past Richard. Richard was both shocked and delighted. “It was clear right from the start that Bertin was a natural on a bicycle,” he said. Before they knew it, beyond their regular mentoring meetings, they were planning extra cycling meetups 10
Seeing how much Bertin loved to cycle, and how quickly he had picked it up, suddenly gave Richard a crazy but exciting idea: Bertin should sign up for the famous 109km Cape Town Cycle Tour! Richard pitched the idea to Bertin and with no hesitation, Bertin was in. Together they started to campaign for Bertin’s race, getting buy-in from the staff at Bertin’s home and SAYes staff. They even managed to get a local cycle shop to give Bertin a sleek road bike that was perfect for the race. With only a few months to go, the serious training started. Richard met Bertin every Saturday and Sunday at 6:00 a.m. for a ride. The other boys at
During their time as mentor and mentee, Richard and Bertin shared a special experience that perfectly embodies a core value of the SAYes mentoring programme: often, the journey is more important than the destination.
BERTIN & Bertin’s home were abuzz with curiosity and excitement – what in the world was motivating Bertin, not typically a morning person, to pop out of bed before sunrise every single weekend?! Finally, after months of early mornings, sore muscles and dedication to their training, race day arrived. Once again, Richard and Bertin woke up bright and early, and headed to the race expo to pick up their race packets before heading to the starting line. Unfortunately, what they found when they arrived was not what they expected. The day was turning out to be one of the windiest Cape Town had experienced in years. As Richard and Bertin tried to approach the starting line, the scene was like something out of a movie, with 100kph winds sending competitors flying off their bikes. Signs, garbage bins and portable toilets tumbled across the street. Before long, race organizers announced that there would be no race – the Cape Town Cycle Tour was cancelled. One might expect that Bertin would be devastated, but as he recounted the story, he didn’t show a single hint of disappointment or regret. Instead, he
RICHARD beamed as he discussed all he gained while training to become a competitive cyclist: he saw beautiful parts of Cape Town he’d never seen before, he got in great shape, developed a new passion and hobby, found a convenient way to get around the city, and learned about bicycle maintenance. “I also learned about the importance of thinking ahead and preparing,” Bertin said. “When you’re on a long ride, it’s important to prepare and know what to do if you get a puncture, for example.” Perhaps most important, however, were the confidence and well-being that developed and deepened with each new ride. And, of course, the profound bond and friendship he formed with Richard. While Richard and Bertin now have new mentormentee matches in the programme, they still keep up with each other and occasionally get together for rides. And the Cape Town Cycle Tour? As Bertin says, “There’s always next year!” 11
MATCH STATISTICS NUMBER OF MENTEES 13
100
23
GRADUATES EARLY CLOSURES
90
15
80
87
70
74
73
2014
2015
60 5
50 40
12
30
1
20
4
24
22
2011 Pilot
2012 Pilot
10 0
0
12
2009 Research Year
2010 Pilot
OUR MENTORS WIM BRAAMSE WIM IS A DUTCH PENSIONER WITH A PASSION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. “I am a mentor for SAYes because I am too young to be inactive, and I want to make a positive change, however small it may be. SAYes offers that opportunity, and the staff members are professional, passionate and supportive. During these two years, I have learnt to be patient, and I understand how privileged I was to have parents who raised me. Every child in a children’s home misses the nurturing and love of a parent. We as mentors can’t be their parents but we can be role models - guiding them on their way to independence.” 12
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2013
2016
INÈS NIRAGIRA INÈS IS AN IT PROFESSIONAL WITH A PASSION FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND AFRICAN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT. “I have always believed I ought to give back to my community once I complete my tertiary studies. Ultimately I will go back to Burundi, but South Africa is also my community, my Africa. Our sessions range from serious talks about gender equality, career aspirations to less serious topics like hair-styles, or how many pizza-slices we can eat. SAYes has helped me realise how much youth living in care need beyond material things. Whether the mentoring has an immediate impact, or impacts their lives much later on, I believe it is worth giving of one’s time to contribute to a greater society.”
SAYes FINANCIAL REVIEW: YEAR END 2016
3%
Income
Donations (85%)
ZAR 1,871,755
Trusts & Foundations (3%)
ZAR 72,876
Events (9%)
ZAR 196,586
Corporate (2%)
ZAR 48,313
Interest (1%)
ZAR 14,488
9% Income
2%
85% 1%
Total ZAR 2,204,018 2% Expenditure Cost of generating voluntary income (15%)
ZAR 308,317
Charitable activities (83%)
ZAR 1,738,634
Governance (2%)
ZAR 47,396
Total
ZAR 2,094,347
Net Income for the period
ZAR 109,671
Total funds carried forward as at 31/12/16
ZAR 278,958
15%
Expenditure 83%
RIDLEY HOWARD
SOPHIA GUADAGNUOLO
RIDLEY IS A PHARMACIST’S ASSISTANT WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUTH.
SOPHIA IS A GLOBETROTTER WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE.
“My mentee and I focus on his memory and concentration as he struggles to stay focused while studying. I suggested a strategic game, called battleship and we since started playing against each other. Mentoring has taught me that no matter how small, my actions have an impact on others and in turn to be more conscious of this. I was nervous at first but this soon passed as I shared with him what I know from my life and experiences. SAYes has been very supportive. They made things very simple. They show great patience and don’t mind reminding me to complete my weekly log!”
“Paraphrasing a famous saying when the mentee is ready, the mentor appears. Last year I left my job and life in Italy and came to South Africa on a journey to find myself! I wasn’t too surprised when I came across SAYes and was paired with a 16-year-old, facing, in her own way, her own quest for freedom, independence and identity. It has been fascinating to watch her blossom and talk through the emotions she is experiencing, facing small and huge issues of self-expression, from standing up for her ideas, defining her perception of herself and to the very first, exciting, work experience.” 13
EVENTS
MENTOR NETWORKING
CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR
MINDFULNESS FOR MENTEES WITH RUBY WAX
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A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE FUNDRAISER
“I COULD TELL MY MENTOR MY PROBLEMS AND SHE LIFTED ME OUT OF MY DARK SPACES. WE ALWAYS HAD A NICE TIME.” – SAYes MENTEE
ANNETTE
& JANA
The South African Premiere of
A GUIDE TO MINDFULNESS
in aid of SAYes Mentoring
14 DECEMBER 2016 • 8 PM Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel Tickets R400 from quicket.co.za Pre-show dinner available at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel contact Restaurant Reservations restaurantreservations.mnh@belmond.com or 021 483 1948 Booking essential.
We are Annette and Jana from Germany and we run X-Philanthropy. We learned about SAYes through Gillian Anderson. Together with Friends of SAYes Germany we celebrate our annual X-Mas fundraiser in support of SAYes. We auction off items such as merchandise, art prints and books autographed by Gillian, which have been donated by fans and artists from all over the world. Without those supporters and without the help of Gillian, X-Philanthropy and the annual X-Mas fundraiser would not be possible. It’s awesome to be able to do good and support young people in South Africa through SAYes as part of our hobby: The X- Files. Although we are far away from South Africa, we are proud to be a part of the SAYes mentoring programme. 15
WHEN HAYLEY AND LYSETTE STEP INTO THE ROOM, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM IS INSTANTLY PALPABLE. THEY’RE SO CAUGHT UP IN JOKES AND GIGGLES, THAT IT TAKES SOME PLAYFUL EFFORT TO GET THEM ON TRACK AND START THE INTERVIEW. Lysette is bubbly, with a bright smile and sparkling eyes. You would never guess, by looking at her, that not so long ago she was battling serious health issues and hospitalised for months. When asked about her time in the hospital, the first thing she says is, “I was anxious about falling behind in school.” Instantly, her tenacity and academic ambition become crystal clear. It was during this time that Hayley and Lysette started their mentorship journey. Although the circumstances were challenging and unexpected, Hayley, with her get-it-done persona, was the right mentor at the right time.
LYSETTE More than mentor and mentee, Hayley and Lysette seem like dear old friends, delighted to catch up with each other and pay homage to their bond.
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Sure, they would have loved to spend their first meetings as mentor and mentee sipping coffee or walking on the beach, but instead, they spent week after week heads-down on coursework so Lysette could get caught up. While Lysette started to heal, their bond started to form, mostly over their shared affinity for mathematics. When asked to describe her relationship with Hayley in one word, without skipping a beat, Lysette says, “supportive.” “When you live in a [children’s] home, there’s a lot of pressure to learn to be independent very quickly,” Lysette says. “Hayley helped me learn to fill those gaps.”
& HAYLEY
“WHEN YOU LIVE IN A [CHILDREN’S] HOME, THERE’S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO LEARN TO BE INDEPENDENT VERY QUICKLY, HAYLEY HELPED ME LEARN TO FILL THOSE GAPS.” – LYSETTE
Hayley’s word is “fulfilling.” She talks about how happy she was that Lysette ultimately had a successful school year. But the fulfilment also came from the admiration she developed for her mentee. “Lysette and her two sisters came to South Africa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo when she was only twelve, yet she continues to excel and persevere.” Hayley looks at Lysette with a warm smile as she speaks, “I’m really proud of her.” Once the schoolwork scramble passed, Hayley and Lysette were able to enjoy more relaxing times together. From spending Heritage Day on the coast, snacking on fish and chips, to conversations about art (Lysette’s hobby when she’s not studying) with Hayley’s father, to simply taking long scenic drives together. They’ve each learned different things from the SAYes programme. For Hayley, an important learning has been about the importance of patience and consistency when building trust. “I
usually approach a situation with a new mentee as though I’m simply building a friendship,” she says. Lysette now applies what she’s learned from Hayley about being a good mentor, to her relationship with her younger sister. “I treat her with respect and as an equal,” she says. “I know that if I show my own vulnerability, it will help her open up to me.” When it comes to her future, Lysette says she hopes to eventually turn her mathematical abilities into a career as an accountant, which also happens to be Hayley’s profession. But there’s more to Lysette’s goal. “When I become super successful, I want to start an organization that helps refugee girls get bursaries,” she beams. Lysette is reassured knowing that each step of the way, no matter how long it’s been since they’ve spoken, she can turn to Hayley, and Hayley will always have her back.
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THE IMPACT OF SAYes MENTORING AT HEATHERDALE CHILDREN’S HOME
“I REALLY EXPERIENCED SO MUCH WITH MY MENTOR AND HAD SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS JOB SHADOWING AND GENERAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.”
Heatherdale Children’s Home has participated in the SAYes Mentoring programme for several years. Our children are enthusiastic and eager to participate in the programme because of the support and guidance they receive as they transition into adulthood. The children who have participated in the programme have excelled in terms of life-skills and independence. The younger children take note and eagerly ask when it will be their turn to participate.
– SAYes MENTEE
SAYes 2016 SOS Children’s Villages, Cape Town enrolled five young people in the SAYes Mentoring Programme in 2016. They started the programme in February, and four of the five of the young people graduated in November. Unfortunately one mentor and mentee pair closed their mentorship early (in August) due to an unexpected work relocation for the mentor. However, that mentee was first to get a mentor in 2017, and now continues to be a thriving participant in the programme.
The SOS Children’s Villages staff observed significant personal growth in the youth participating in the programme. Some of the most notable positive developments included: • Improved communication with peers and adults • Taking more responsibility at home and demonstrating leadership in their daily tasks • Acting as role models for younger children in the home The monthly mentor and mentee workshops also had great impact. The young people learned important life-skills and always looked forward to attending and participating together with their mentors.
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The following are some of the successes of the programme I observed in 2016: • With the assistance of their mentors, two of our girls passed grade 12. Their mentors went the extra mile in supporting them with their studies and teaching them to find helpful resources. This was deeply appreciated by the staff at Heatherdale because we knew that the girls were in excellent hands. • Another mentor nominated Heatherdale for her Mandela Day 67Minutes of Service at her workplace. While previously visiting with her mentee, the mentor noticed that we had a need for a library. On Mandela Day the mentor and her colleagues created a lovely reading space for our children. We’re beyond grateful for this new resource, which will be key for instilling positive reading habits in our children.
disabilities. His mentor was very committed and made an extra effort so the young man could participate and they could progress together. This had a great impact on the young man. The list of how SAYes Mentoring impacts our children’s lives goes on and on. I believe that the most important aspect of this programme for our children is that they are treated with respect, dignity and as equals by their mentors. This has boosted their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth. Through this programme the children are in the process of building a network of support that will be present with them for the rest of their lives.
• Another highlight from our work with SAYes last year was their flexibility and willingness to go the extra mile for our children. This was particularly apparent with a young man with learning
In general, the young people who participate in the SAYes Mentoring Programme come away with a clearer notion of their goals and next steps in life. Our staff has been highly impressed with the positive attitudes and development of our SAYes mentees, as well as with the professionalism of the mentors.
CLAIRISHIA JACOBS, SENIOR CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKER
“MY MENTOR HELPED ME WITH LOTS OF THINGS. SHE HELPED ME TO SEE MY OWN TALENTS. I CAN REALLY TRUST MY MENTOR.” – SAYes MENTEE
Other youth have taken note of how their peers benefited from the programme and interest in participating in the programme has quickly grown. The impact was so great that we now have 12 youth participating in the SAYes programme in 2017. That includes the five from the 2016 programme and seven new participants.
ALOIS ALOO, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES CAPE TOWN 19
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our work would not be possible without the ongoing support SAYes receives. We are fortunate to have such a long list of supporters and unfortunate to have limited space to acknowledge them all. Please accept our gratitude, each and every one of you. Your help means the world to the young people who take part in the SAYes TIL Youth Mentoring Programme. We hope that you will continue to offer support where it’s possible. Please understand that while you may fall under more than one category below, your name will only appear once. This is so that we can include as many supporters as possible on this page.
Donors/Fundraisers • Martin Mills • Carrie Wasserman • St James’s Foundation • Michael S. • Lukas Ettlin • Alert Engine Parts • Peregrine (Pty) Ltd. • Netto Invest • Iain Low • Arianne Hough • Grant Forrester • Coronation Asset Management • Mike Purvis • Abbie Mummert • Susanna Birkeland • Clive Ayling • Robert Milton • Brigitte Dewberry • Samantha Evans • Kim den Hond • Julia Clucas • Peter Kent 20
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Major donors • The Personal Development Trust UK • Gillian Anderson • Harrodian School • Friends of SAYes Germany e.V. • Nimble Group Friends of SAYes who contributed monthly • Allison Harse • Carmen Schaefer • Catherine Verney • Chelsey Cole • Danielle Scott • Diana J. Gerald • Dieter Gockmann • Emily Hamilton • Lauren Romero • Nadine Hidalgo • Nikki Gandy • Tamara Case
Claudia Herr Rocio Ciganda Shana Lieberman Robert Murphy Candice Luk Erica Mann Kristy Anderson Mindy Caringola Marjolaine Leroux Pierre van Helden Louise Selby Jesse Lee Emile Engela Alison Minea Elizabeth Mabery Kim Pinto Pam Hervey Julia Sattler Jillian Brule Celly Brohée Hannah Jolly Shoshana Korman Genevieve Puchall Sue Haglund
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Saga Hirvilampi Brenda Owczynsky Lauren Kelly Sandra Watkins Stephanie Petch Elisabeth Pfeiffer Julie Behm Julie Cain Kizuna Lee Marilia Moura Sarah Gibson Sarah Layton Maeghan Taverner Andrew Donaldson Beth Stephens Adeline Malecot Alice Benchiarin Lisa Trumpa Nadine Sieber Abbie Orwig Ava Cardarelli Chasidy Coble Jenny Saima Katie Van Luven
FUNDING PARTNERS Special thanks to • Bernard Viljoen at I Was Shot in Cape Town • Debbie Netto and Ian Beere at Netto Invest • Elisabeth de Kergolay • Harriet Price • Jennifer Venter • Kasia Lynch • Kat van Duinen • Keith Shone • Lee den Hond • Lena Whitaker at Oscar Rae • Rowan Gordon & Trevor Jacobs at Nimble Group • Ruby Wax • Sabine Schmidt • Sandy Naude at Independent Newspapers • Susan Feldman at St. Ann’s Warehouse • Xavier Lablaude and Louise Pheiffer at Belmond Mount Nelson
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Sarah-Tamara Rind Angie Malmberg Anita Mihaly Sarah Randazzo
Our Partners • Al-Noor CYCC • Beth Uriel • Durbanville Children’s Home • Girls and Boys Town • Heatherdale Children’s Home • Home from Home • Home of Hope • Lawrence House • Leliebloem • Marsh Memorial Homes • Percy Bartley House • SA Children’s Home • SOS Children’s Villages • St George’s Home for Girls
RESOURCE PARTNERS
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Designed in the UK by Oscar Rae
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HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SAYes! Support for SAYes comes in many forms. Have a look at the different ways you can get involved and visit our website to find out more.
What’s right for you?
SAYes offers structured mentoring programmes that are designed to build social capital, skills, knowledge and experience while improving independence and well-being for youth in transition. You can help us...
Become a Transition Mentor
A transition mentor meets with a young person (aged 14-25) for one hour a week over nine months. Continued support is provided by our qualified counsellors and social workers while our mentors take specific action steps to offer their mentees guidance, advocacy and support. The programme runs annually from February to October, but the positive impact you’ll have on your mentee will last a lifetime. Commitment 1 hour per week for 9 months 1 two-hour workshop per month
Become a Drop-in Mentor
A drop-in mentor takes part in a one-off one-hour discussion session with a mentor-mentee pair. Our drop-in mentors are based all over the world. The brief interaction can spark further interest and motivation in a young person who is keen to explore a particular field. SAYes depends greatly on this network of support, and all levels of experience are welcome. If you have a skill you’d like to share, please consider becoming a drop-in mentor. Commitment 1 hour, one-off
Become a Resource Partner
A resource partner is a business, NGO or an individual interested in helping transition-age youth develop their strengths and broaden their interests. Our resource partners provide structured support within five key transition areas: Education and Learning, Career Development, Housing and Citizenship, Sport and Recreation, and Family and Community. Young people accessing opportunities provided by SAYes resource partners do so under the guidance, advocacy and support of their mentors. This is a chance for you to contribute in a meaningful way and help us to ensure mentees are exposed to opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise experience while living in care. Commitment Determined by the Resource Partner
Donate
A donation goes a long way, no matter what the amount. With your help, SAYes looks to sustain the roll-out of TIL Youth Mentoring Programmes nationally. To make a one-off or recurring financial contribution, please visit our website.
Fundraise
SAYes holds fundraisers throughout the year and we encourage you to join our exciting events. We also welcome anyone who wants to initiate their own fundraiser. For a calendar of our events, as well as ideas on how to fundraise for SAYes and links on where to start, please visit our website.
We are excited to be registered as a beneficiary of the Woolworths MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet programme. MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet is one of South Africa’s biggest fundraising programmes and allows you to make a difference, just by shopping. Every time you use your card at any of their partner stores they’ll give back a percentage of your purchase value, on your behalf, to SAYes at absolutely no cost to you.
ADVANTAGES • It won’t cost you a thing. Simply swipe. • The more you spend, the more you give. • Save between 10 and 20% instantly on over 1000 items at Woolworths. • You can have up to three beneficiaries (if you want to support other charities). • And it only takes a minute to register. Stores include Altech Netstar, Engen Foodstops, Engen Quickshops, kalahari. com, MySchool Travel, Power24 pre-paid electricity, Reggie’s, Toys R Us, Waltons and Woolworths.
Visit www.myschool.co.za for more details and to apply now!
Sign up for the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card and start raising money for SAYes today!
“MY MENTOR INSPIRED ME. I NEVER KNEW MY POTENTIAL BUT MY MENTOR HELPED ME TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO.” – SAYes MENTEE
“MY MENTOR HELPED ME REALISE THAT I AM CAPABLE TO COPE AND HANDLE INDEPENDENCE” – SAYes MENTEE
SAYes Office c/o Brickfield Call centre 35 Brickfield Road, Woodstock Cape Town 7925 Postal: P.O. Box 273, Woodstock Cape Town 7915 Tel.: +27 (0)21 830 0795 Mobile: +27 (0)76 771 9011 Fax: +27 (0)86 578 8241 Email: info@sayesmentoring.org Web: www.sayesmentoring.org South African Youth Education for Sustainability (SAYes) Registered in South Africa Trust Registration no. IT 2774/2010 NPO no. 088-299-NPO PBO no. 930 035 691 & Section 18A