SAYes Annual Report 2022

AnnualReport SAYes 2022

Acknowledgements

Our work would not be possible without the ongoing support of our funders. We are so grateful to those of you who have supported us over the years, enabling us to impact the lives of so many young people in South Africa and now also in the UK. We hope that you will continue to offer support where it’s possible.

To our mentors – who make such a difference simply by showing up every week; and to our mentees - for entrusting us to support them on their journeys.

And finally, a huge thank you goes to our boards of trustees in South Africa and in the UK, for guiding us and offering support, when we need it.

Special thanks to

• Carmen Schaefer

• Claire Harman

• Craig Nethercott

• Crystal Hardison

• Daniel Swanepoel

• Duncan Ayling

• Janette Zingg

• Julie Ng

• Keith Shone

• Lena Whitaker at Oscar Rae

• Rowan Gordon & Trevor Jacobs at Nimble Group

• Sabine Schmidt

• Sandy Naude - Independent Newspapers

Designed in the UK by Lena Whitaker at Oscar Rae.

Michelle Potter

As we all slowly surface from the challenges faced during the 2020 pandemic, SAYes has been able to return to some semblance of normality, with in-person meetings and the chance to travel again. This has developed into exciting partnership and programme opportunities, both in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

At the beginning of the year, we connected with the Mayor of London to offer our support with his ‘New Deal for Young People’ programme following his pledge to mentor every at-risk young Londoner by 2024. We are delighted to have piloted programmes with Southwark Council and established networks with other councils in the UK who are keen to work with us in the future.

April saw the launch of our e-mentoring partner programme with Nike EMEA, where NIKE employees were given the opportunity to mentor under-served young people living in Johannesburg. By the end of 2022, twentythree graduated from the programme and we were delighted by the positive response from mentors and mentees alike. We were fortunate to be able to visit Nike Europe Headquarters in Amsterdam, to meet mentors and see first-hand the impact that the programme had on all involved.

In July, it was wonderful to be able to return to London for the first time since the pandemic. Our time was spent connecting with partners; councils; donors and visiting programmes already established that help support young people in the UK. We are excited with the prospect of working with these fantastic organisations in the future.

Our remote mentoring continues to flourish with mentors from all over the world

consistently meeting for weekly video calls with mentees in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Thankfully, with the easing of lockdown restrictions, we have been able to visit children’s homes and check in on younger and less experienced mentees, to offer support and guidance.

We were delighted rekindle our partnerships with Child and Youth Care Centres in South Africa, after the pandemic. We are excited to work with them again and to launch our Ambassadors’ Programme soon.

Throughout the year, the Alumni held Making Connection sessions hosted by careexperienced young people from Namibia; Kenya; Uganda; Cambodia; India and the UK. The events brought young people together worldwide to share similar experiences and build lasting friendships.

Lastly, I must mention our wonderful donors and supporters, without whom none of this work would be possible. They have organised and bought tickets to fundraising raffles; donated generously to Global Giving campaigns; and shared our news on social media. Knowing that they are always with us makes us feel incredibly grateful.

Michelle Potter Executive Director and Founder

So last year Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, declared that every at-risk young Londoner would be offered a dedicated mentor by 2024. Naturally I reached out to recommend our mentoring expertise at SAYes and was delighted when he agreed to meet with us and discuss our future involvement with his vision.

As you may or may not know, SAYes has been implementing successful mentoring programmes since 2008 and helped hundreds of young people in South Africa. And now that we’ve successfully piloted several purpose-driven programmes in the UK, the chance to take an active part in the Mayor’s ‘New Deal for Young People’ initiative is beyond our wildest dreams really and something we are very excited about.

In other news, our remote mentoring continues to thrive, with mentors from around the world meeting with mentees each week, both in South Africa and the UK. We have worked really hard to improve and adapt our mentoring experience, as technology advances and it makes me especially proud knowing that SAYes is truly an international organisation with supporters in every corner of the world.

In April, we were thrilled to be able to partner with NIKE EMEA. Nike employees trained with us and then volunteered as mentors, connecting with under-served young people in Johannesburg. Our programme was well received with twenty-three young people graduating at the end of 2022.

And very importantly a huge warm thank you to everyone who supported us by contributing to our fundraising campaigns. We appreciate that these are difficult times financially for so many and yet during April and September, you raised more than $1000 through our LittlexLittle campaign - GlobalGiving then matched 50% of all donations up to a value of $50. Then in August, a few of you got together to collect and raffle fantastic prizes which coincided with my birthday. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for what was a huge commitment of time and effort. Thank you.

Finally, there was the fortuitous moment when Michelle was helped with her suitcase in Liverpool Street station by artist SuzannK who then offered to donate a piece of her wonderful artwork to raise funds for SAYes! The raffle through GlobalGiving on ‘Giving Tuesday’ raised almost $3,500! Thank you so so much Suzann!!!!!!

I must also say a big thank you to all of you who help share the news of our work, on your social media platforms. It really makes such a big difference to our outreach.

All the money you have helped us raise through all of your efforts will go directly to supporting our mentor and mentee programmes - you can read about the impact of your generosity in this report. We couldn’t do this work without you.

Gillian Anderson Founder and Patron

Gillian Anderson

This past year reminded us yet again, of the many ways societies can be destabilised, and yet, for SAYes, it has also shown us that effective and meaningful social change is not only possible – with the right combination of partners and people – it is inevitable.

I am pleased to reflect on the achievements of 2022, especially against the challenges of the last two to three years. In 2020, civil society organisations like ours demonstrated remarkable action and support. Then we, along with many other organisations, experienced uncertainty and inconsistency in philanthropic funding throughout 2021, despite a widespread and urgent need for charitable work. In 2022, we responded to this challenge by taking difficult, but considered and purposeful steps to address the future of both sustainability and scale for SAYes.

We initiated 69 new mentor-mentee matches this year. Combined with matches contracted in late 2021, this gives a total of 137 matches supported at different times in 2022. While fewer than the mentorships initiated and managed in 2021 (88 and 180 respectively), this was a necessary step in confronting the challenge of sustainability head on. Specifically, we scaled back on staffing and on new mentorships within independent volunteer programmes, while introducing customised programmes for both business teams and non-profit partners. Of the new matches made in 2022, a full 70% were from funded partnerships of this sort. In this way we succeeded in achieving targeted community and social impact with mentees, whilst also generating value in inclusive leadership, management, employee engagement, and personal and professional development with our partners and mentors. On the corporate side of this journey, we are especially grateful to

partner with the Social and Community Impact (SCI) team at Nike and their impressive network of Sport for Development partners. The Nike SCI vision for coaching and mentoring in the service of inclusive and flourishing communities is informing, inspiring and deeply focused –and we are thrilled to work with them and Nike staff throughout the EMEA regions. Likewise, the value of mentorship, both internally and externally, is increasingly a conversation with our non-profit partners and with responsible business in South Africa and abroad. We aspire to grow the scope and scale of these conversations – and to facilitate many more contexts for the introduction of social change mentoring. At the same time, the market and network effects of our partnership programmes have helped us support unfunded programmes, in part by attracting new donors and new partnerships, and by encouraging independent volunteers to invest in training and programme services themselves. When combined with traditional fundraising, socially responsible investing allows us to unlock programmes for regions and groups that have regularly received less direct funding in the past, such as Children’s Homes in Southern Africa. This marks a tipping point for SAYes, and the keeping of a promise we have made from day one –sustainable social change.

Out of Africa, an impact investment from a single social investor, allowed us to successfully pilot mentorships for young people living in the UK - referred from local authorities and youth organisations, as well as many who approached SAYes directly. In a landscape with many befriending programmes on the one hand, and apprenticeships on the other, the value of an integrated and formal approach to mentoring and transition planning, especially across internally diverse settings, was to our mind very

clear. To test this assumption, we worked with a number of different groups of young people in the UK. For example, young people aging out of extended ‘care leaver’ support (ending at 25 years of age), as well as those recently transitioning from children’s homes and foster care - and seeking work, in early careers (including entrepreneurship) or in higher educational contexts. We also worked with young people with special educational and mental health needs – as well as those outside of health referrals who nevertheless represent a growing number of young people seriously distressed or struggling with mental health. Indeed, in a recent 64-country ranking, the UK ranks lowest in average mental health score (South Africa is second lowest) – and has the second highest number of people who are distressed or struggling – 35.7% (after South Africa).* This is clearly an area where more can and should be done – especially as generationally, we begin to take accountability, for the distorted and disconnecting digital and physical world we have set for young people grow in. Proudly, in our UK pilot we also worked, and worked effectively and meaningfully, with young people displaced by geopolitical conflict – including the illegal war in Ukraine. Our experience in working with refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa has been invaluable here, as has the integrated support provided through a transition mentoring approach. More widely; we have extended mentorship to young people in the UK who for whatever reason, do not have direct access to positive, one-to-one, adult relationships to guide, advocate and support their ambitions. The diversity and inclusivity of this approach has allowed us to undergird another long-held and bold ambition of our own, mentorships to end social poverty – period. In other words, scale. The value for high quality relational support for

young people, provided through mentorship, is unquestionably sound. It has always been evident to us, and increasingly to others, that this is also likely true, across all geographies, backgrounds, or circumstances.

Our small project begun 15 years ago with young people living on the streets of Cape Town, now finds itself an international mentoring programme, with a robustly scalable and sustainable model. Moving forward, we will continue to provide a platform for human connection of the highest calibre. We will continue to powerfully improve life chances for young people everywhere they ask us to. And we will continue to work with leading partners from our communities, our businesses, and our governments. All eyes are firmly on the horizon.

Andrew Dellis

Andrew Dellis

*The Mental State of the World in 2022, A publication of the Mental Health Million Project, Sapien Labs (March, 2023)

In 2022, the Nike Social & Community Impact (SCI) team partnered with SAYes Mentoring to design, deliver and support a virtual volunteering opportunity linking 25 mentors (Nike employees) with 25 mentees (young adult ‘change-makers’, leaders and coaches from Johannesburg South Africa) on a highimpact, one-to-one, e-Mentoring programme. The partnership was and is inspired by a shared mission to empower and celebrate communities of mentors and coaches (especially from non-dominant and undersupported groups) who are personally committed to creating a better, more inclusive, more supportive version of themselves, of each-other and of the social impact organisations they champion. The interest from Nike employees for the programme was overwhelming, with nearly 100 mentor enquires from 22 nationalities across the EMEA region. Likewise, we received many mentee applications from impressive young coaches at a variety of Sport for Development Partners (including Altus Sport, Grassroots Soccer, Judo4Peace, Girls Skate, SoDopeDance, Soweto Canoe Club), as well as from many independent students, interns and artists also committed to focused social change. The programme, at all levels, was exceptionally well received, and we very much look forward to working with Nike to support many more mentorships, in many more regions, into the future.

• Nearly 560 hours of one-to-one youth mentoring (weekly meeting percentage 88%)

• 92% graduation rate

• 100% positive life impact for mentees (74% ‘Life-changing’, 26% ‘Much positive’)

• 100% improved decision-making for mentees (60% ‘Life-changing’, 40% ‘Much positive’)

• 100% improved healthy-practices for mentees (65% ‘Life-changing’, 35% ‘Much positive’)

• 100% of mentees would recommend SAYes mentoring to other young people (100% ‘Yes – a lot’)

• 100% of mentees said SAYes gives them a good feeling (78% ‘I love SAYes’, 17% ‘SAYes gives me a really good feeling’, and 4% ‘SAYes gives me a good feeling’)

• 94% of mentors experienced a change in perspective on charity as a result of the SAYes programme (23% ‘Extensively’, 41% ‘A lot’, 24% ‘A moderate amount’, 6% ‘A little’)

• 100% of mentors experienced programme outcomes as tractable

• 100% of mentors experienced their role as impactful (31% ‘Extensively’, 63% ‘A lot’, and 13% ‘A little’)

• 100% of mentors said the programme positively impacted independence and wellbeing for their mentee (29% ‘Extensively’, 65% ‘A lot’, 6% ‘A moderate amount’)

• 100% of mentors believe the programme achieved the aim of inspiring and informing leaders of social change (41% ‘Extensively’, 59% ‘A lot’)

• 100% of mentors are now more comfortable navaigating diversity as a result of the SAYes programme (29% ‘Extensively’, 29% ‘A lot’, 24% ‘A moderate amount’, 18% ‘ A little’)

• 100% of mentors reported deepening their knowledge and skills related to guidance (over 85% ‘A lot’ and ‘Extensively’), advocacy (over 94% ‘A lot’ and ‘Extensively’), support (over 94% ‘A lot’ and ‘Extensively’), and transition planning (over 75% ‘A lot’ and ‘Extensively’)

• 100% of mentors developed personally (33% ‘Life-changing’, 60% ‘Much positive’, 7% ‘Some positive’)

• 100% of mentors developed professionally (31% ‘Life-changing’, 28% ‘Much positive’, 31% ‘Some positive’)

• Mentors scored the development of inclusive leadership skills and personal qualities at an average of 84% (Median 83%) across a 10-item scale (including 92% “Motivating others to act strategically”, 90% “Appreciation and Respect for different perspectives”, 88% “Coping with uncertainty”)

• Mentors scored employee engagement due to the mentorship at an average of 80% (Median 73%) across a 10-item scale (including 92% “I felt investment in my development as a whole person”, 90% “I felt a meaningful investment in my career growth”, 88% “I felt proud of my company”)

• 100% of mentors said they would be interested in mentoring again with SAYes

• 100% of mentors would recommend SAYes to a friend or college (100 Net promoter score)

Nike e-Mentorship Programme

“Thankful” – “The four-phased model and having a consistent touchpoint every week created the right structure and cadence for us to advance week after week…This programme will make you a better mentor, coach, manager and frankly speaking, person”

“Fulfilling” – “I believe this experience has changed both our lives… The legacy we leave behind isn’t how well we’ve done in our corporate roles, it’s the ability to affect social change.”

“Exceptional”–“Thishasbeensuchanamazinglearningjourneyformyself,challenging, emotionalandconfrontationalattimes.Ifeel likeIhavegrownasaperson,gottoknowmyself betterthroughthisexperience,butalsolearnt howtounderstandotherperspectives.This experienceIwillleverageinbothmypersonaland professionallifeandIamgratefulthatIcouldbe partofthisamazingprogramme!”

Marketing Director, Value/Unite Stores –EMEA, Netherlands

Partner Marketing Lead – EMEA Jordan Brand, Netherlands

Customer Finance Business Director – EMEA, Netherlands

Nike e-Mentorship Programme

“Fulfilling” – “It’s an opportunity to give back but also gives you exposure to the tools and techniques that develop your communication muscle and to deal with complex issues. The mentorship journey contributes immensely to your personal growth, you will leave the programme a different person with a different perspective.”

“Humbling” – “One of the most profound benefits that I have realised through volunteering is becoming more innovative. Constantly looking for and thinking about different ways to approach situations that I would never have imagined… The SAYes mentor programme keeps me humble, my feet on the ground and reminds me of what is important.”

“Humbling” – “I sometimes feel the mentorship programme is a journey that taught me more than taught my mentee… It’s an enriching experience from a personal development point of view with professional growth as a consequence.”

“Exciting” – “Throughout my 25 years in the corporate world, I have always been a coach to onboarding colleagues… I truly thought I knew it all - until I joined SAYes mentoring and realised that I knew nothing! This journey has helped me become a better person, better parent and more self-aware.”

Brand Merchandise Manager, South Africa

Brand Merchandiser –Men’s Lifestyle, South Africa

Head Coach, Store Director, Spain

Account Brand Manager Deichmann Group – EMEA, Netherlands

Nike e-Mentorship Programme

I am a 24-year-old Congolese born living in South Africa under refugee status.

“I was in dire need of guidance mentorship in order to take my thinking abilities up a level and grow emotionally and professionally… I’ve had to overcome the fear of opening up about my struggles and challenges. I’ve also had to let go my inability to effectively communicate my feelings in an attempt to not seem weak to others… What surpised me at first was the mentor’s willingness to provide their time and knowledge for free, what has surprised me about the experience is the development that goes on. I am definitely more emotionally intelligent.”

I am a martial arts practitioner and instructor at Judo for Peace South Africa, with plans of making a breakthrough in the music industry.

“Exhilarating” – “Things happened so fast that I felt like I had known my mentor for a decent amount of years, by the second month I had already met one of the managers of one of my favourite singers and couldn’t believe that we were already deep into my goals and close to making them a reality. Adjusting my approach towards life and my goals had never felt so easy because my mentor made efforts to teach me branding and the ropes of how to present myself like a professional… The mentorship really was the last push I needed in order to push myself to the limits and I honestly see the drastic change and growth mentally, emotionally and goal wise.”

I am 18 years old. I live in Soweto – I grew up there with my 3 other siblings and my mother a single parent of 4 children – with no source of income other than the social grant. I finished matric last year.

“I have an amazing mentor who is really patient with me, and does believe in me... that pushes me to good. And her focusing on the positive side of me. It really amazes me that I’m having a mentor that really cares and hopes for the better.”

I live in Johannesburg South Africa and I’m originally from the DRC. I am a judoka and I also coach judo. I believe both the mind and body has to stay healthy.

“Awesome” – “The journey with my mentor was really superb, he really helped me understand a lot of things I did not understand before, my vision has been impacted… writing down your plans and goals are very important as it helps you filter which is achievable and which is immediately achievable.”

I’m passionate about sports that promote social cohesion between local citizens and foreign nationals. I’m a mom, psychology student, lay counsellor, judo coach, SAYes mentee and a globetrotter.

“Extraordinary” – “My biggest thing, since the start of the programme was finding someone that can resonate with me, someone with empathy and someone that can make me feel understood and heard, while having boundaries and respect… Her way of doing things with me and guiding me makes me realise that I had been needing someone like her to help me make effective use of my brain.”

I am 20 years old and non-binary. I love reading and skateboarding. In 5 years I’d like to have won the lottery so I can be a millionaire. If that doesn’t happen (very unlikely) then I’d like to be an English teacher who skateboards with their students.

“Amplifying” - “Last year I went into a course I had no passion for. After following the phases of this mentorship programme I’ve become more in tune with my passions and have since decided to follow through with them…it offers you skills that you need but haven’t been formally introduced to in normal learning systems.”

I am 21, a poet, writer, podcaster and director. I am an art fanatic and love conversations I can learn from.

“Life-changing” – “I feared that my mentor might change her mind or find that she didn’t like me. Within 2 sessions I’d already seen that she cares and that allowed me to open up about how I feel and the goals I had, what’s happening in my life and the people in my life which helped us move smoothly throughout the programme.” “The way she believes in me and the way she pushes me is out of this world. She gave me so much support and I am where I am in my career because of her”. “I’ve learnt to be kinder because now I know how much that can change someone’s life.”

SAYes was founded with the intention of improving life outcomes for young people through mentorship. What started as a trip to South Africa to coach football in 2005, led to a sponsored tour to the UK for a group of care experienced young South Africans (who got to meet Nelson Mandela), which then led to the curiosity and compassion behind an award winning dissertation (comparing support for care experienced young people in the UK and South Africa in 2007), which then led to the founding of SAYes Mentoring in Cape Town, South Africa (and a move to South Africa for our founder Michelle Potter in 2008). Now, some 15 years later, we see the arrival of SAYes Mentoring in the UK. As active citizens, communities, businesses, and governments have increasingly prioritised meaningful human connection, and authentically inclusive societies, mentorship has found its resonance. We are especially grateful to a single social investor, whose belief in SAYes has allowed us to move with this tide.

Since 2010, the mental health of youth has seriously declined, especially among young women. A recent 64-country ranking of mental health finds that the UK has the lowest average mental health score and the second highest proportion of people distressed or struggling (more than a third). While youth unemployment rates are low in the UK, these estimates are complicated by a sudden rise in economically inactive people (i.e. those not seeking work) due to poor health (2.5 million) as well as worker discouragement. Likewise, while extreme poverty in the UK (by global standards) is at less

than 1 percent, by National Poverty Lines just over 20% of the country lives in relative poverty, including just over 30% of the UK’s children. The trend (for almost all groups) appears to be negative, with levels now approaching the peaks of the 1990s. In education, there are recent drops in number of 18 to 24-year-olds in full time education, and the disadvantage attainment gap continues to grow, and to vary substantially by ethnic status. Social poverty and social inequality (in addition to material inequality) may explain these effects. Indeed, inequality in the UK relative to other developed economies

is high and correlates, as it does in developing countries, with a higher proportion of health and social problems both within (by region) and across countries. Far too many young people around the world do not have access to positive adult relationships focused on improving their life chances. As each generation prepares the soil for the next, this is a clear call to action. We know that mentorship can profoundly change life outcomes for young people in South Africa and in the UK - indeed everywhere where humans seek out one another to flourish.

July 2023 will see the completion of our rolling UK pilot programme and the evaluation of the impact of mentorship for several different groups of young people throughout the UK. Early results, for both mentors and mentees, are very promising. As is the vision and dedication of government, local authorities, and youth organisations that we are working with. Impact ratings and comments from graduating UK based mentees are included in the outcomes section on page 20. Although a small number thus far, all assessments are consistent with positive findings seen in other SAYes Programmes. We look forward to sharing more.

“When I was joining the programme, I really didn’t know what to expect - I was just craving to do something meaningful, something that I would consider important. It turned out to be an unforgettable experience. A whole beautiful journey of building a connection with someone who is not my family member, or my friend, or my colleague - basically a complete stranger at first. No agenda as such. Just exploring someone else’s world and their ideas, being present, being supportive. At the same time, being welcomed to share my own thoughts and stories - always keeping in mind that whatever I’m saying, it’s best if it adds value and contributes to the connection between us two. In the world of meaningless content and shallow chats just for the sake of having a chat, I found our meetings really soul-nourishing - because they always had a meaning. Even if it was about something small. Even if we just talked about what it’s like to have a puppy. Especially when we talked about a puppy! This safe space full of meaning is what I’ve already started missing a lot. And it’s only been a week or so! But also, I just got really lucky because my mentee is the most incredible powerhouse of a person.” – (Mentor, UK Programmes)

What year/s were you in the SAYes programme? Started in 2022.

How did you hear about SAYes? I heard through my social worker.

What attracted you to SAYes? What made you sign up? The reason why I signed up for SAYes was because I was moving out of a Children’s Home and towards independent living. I needed additional mentoring, guidance, and support.

What were you hoping to get out of the programme? Youth empowerment; to learn new skills; opportunities; and support .

Tell us about the positives of the programme. SAYes is amazing in so many ways. For example, when my mentor Fleur, my Transition Specialist and I come up with a plan to solve any issues that I might have. My mentor is a great listener and gives advice whenever she can. And the Transition Specialist is always trying her best to see what SAYes can do to assist me. The mentoring programme with its support system is amazing. It is both motivational and inspirational. Tell us about a story that meant a lot to you. My story, honestly speaking, is that I have come so far. It makes me so proud to see what I’ve achieved and where I’m heading. It is amazing to watch my growth and this is my greatest inspiration.

What are the top three things that you learnt from the programme? Generosity. Patience . Honesty

Do you have a message for a new mentor/mentee? You have what it takes to achieve your goals.

What year/s were you in the SAYes programme? I have been in the programme since summer 2020 and am currently mentoring my third mentee.

How did you hear about SAYes?

Via Gillian Anderson, whom I have been following and have been a fan of for a long time.

What attracted you to SAYes?

What made you sign up?

The possibility to join from my home (in The Netherlands) and to mentor online presented itself at a time where I felt I had the time and ability to commit.

What concerns (if any) did you have when thinking about signing up? Even though I was unsure if I had anything to add, or had enough knowledge/ connections, I decided to trust the process. What I learned since then is that everyone brings a unique package of experiences to the SAYes programme. And if you need it there is always brilliant support - for example, SAYes’s Transition

Specialist has been instrumental in all the work with Monique, my amazing mentee.

What were you hoping to get out of the SAYes programme? Mostly an opportunity to be involved with the incredible work, to try and do something useful with my spare time that I felt would have a positive impact. I had been aware of and following SAYes for a while.

Tell us about the positives of the programme. There are so many. The clear and extensive interview; in-depth training before you being mentoring; the amazing support system; the resources; and of course, the mentors, mentees and their stories.

Anything else you would like to tell us? I feel grateful to be asked to write this and I’d like to take this opportunity to shine a light on our wonderful Transition Specialist, who has been an incredible source of advocacy and support to the both of us. And Monique, who makes mentoring so much fun and a very easy, gratifying experience, no matter what we talk about.

Tell us about a story that meant a lot to you.The stories of resilience, hope and willpower that my SAYes mentees have shared with me are honestly the most awe-inspiring and humbling experience that I could have. As someone who is from a completely different culture, I can only imagine what it takes to do what all these unique girls and women are doing. Their stories are ones I will treasure.

What are the top three things that you learned from the programme? Humility and perspective: Opening the program globally gives the partnership between mentor and mentee unique opportunities to learn from each other. It empowers participants with experiences and insights they ordinarily might not have. It is humbling and awe inspiring.

Gratitude: The simple fact that someone is willing to show up to the conversation we are inviting them to. They are willing to take a leap into the unknown with just the promise of consistency, advocacy and support. All this without really knowing anything about their new mentor, is incredible. Every time my mentee answers my call, I am so grateful to have her trust.

The power of listening: At the start of my part in the programme I was very worried (and sometimes still am) that I would not be able to ‘do enough’. However, my mentors and mentees have taught me that sometimes, just the presence of a kind, listening and unjudgmental ear can be enough to provide some relief.

Do you have a message for a new mentor? Consistency is the main thing you can offer. Plan for it and uphold it as much as you can but do not be discouraged when a mentee cannot commit to the same. It is a process, a journey, and sometimes the goal is simply to get to weekly meetings. That too is okay because it is still progress.

How did you hear about SAYes?

Through my employer, Inver Re. They partnered with SAYes in 2022 and asked for volunteers.

What attracted you to SAYes/what made you sign up? I was unaware of the challenges that care leavers face until SAYes reached out for volunteers and was saddened to hear just some of the difficulties they can face. I was so impressed with the work that the charity does in this very unpublicised sector of need and signed up because I wanted to help in a practical way. The charity offers great training and support to the mentors which I felt was very important ensure the best outcome for the mentees.

What concerns (if any) did you have about signing up? The level of responsibility was a concern. That was driven by doubts as to whether I would be effective in the role of mentor, but the training provided by SAYes gave me confidence. I was also concerned that my mentee would not like me and therefore find it difficult to interact, but the matching process is so well managed by the SAYes team, I need not have worried.

What are you hoping to get out of the SAYes programme?

The satisfaction that I am doing something positive to hopefully help young people who have had such a tough start in life achieve their goals. Also, personal development in doing something new which was outside my comfort zone.

Anything else you would like to tell us? I was matched with my mentee back in November and I would like to think that since then we have developed a mutual trust and respect. Personally, I feel grateful for that and hopefully my mentee feels the same! I feel it helps with the effectiveness of our weekly meetings.

Tell us about a story that meant a lot to you (not necessarily SAYes related). I heard a story about a past-mentee under the SAYes program, who arranged a Christmas Day lunch last year for over 60 care leavers and their dependents in their local area. In addition, that person managed to get support from others to put together small gifts for those attending. Many of the attendees would have spent Christmas entirely their own had that person not had the initiative, confidence, and kindness to put it together.

What are the top thress things that you learned from the programme?

• In the limited time I have been doing this, I have learned the importance of listening in the mentoring process. There are times when your mentee will just want to talk without an agenda which can be of huge benefit if they have nobody else to speak to. It is not just about giving advice and guidance which was one of my initial expectations.

• Your mentee may have a different set of life skills borne

out of a start in life totally different from you own, but that does not mean you cannot learn from them. I have certainly been inspired by my mentee’s attitude to achieving set goals.

• At first, I thought the discussion in each session would have to be structured to take in the various areas in the Transition Plan such as Education & Learning, Mental Health etc., but I quickly realised that made for a very formal approach. It found it easier and more productive to identify certain areas to dive into as each session progressed without pressuring yourself and your mentee to address each sector.

What message would you give new/potential mentors? You can make a positive difference to a young person’s life by just giving one hour of your time each week. Sessions are online so you can arrange them at a time convenient to you and your mentee. As mentioned above, the training and support given by the SAYes team is amazing – they are there for you throughout the entire process and on hand if you have any worries or concerns. I never thought I would become a mentor, but I am so pleased I challenged myself and took on the role. An hour a week of your time is a small contribution to a great cause.

How did you hear about SAYes?

Care Leavers Covenant Website

What attracted you to SAYes? What made you sign up?

I needed some support in my life. I am care-experienced and had so much going on. I felt alone and isolated, and like I had nobody to talk to. I was at a low stage in my life.

What were you hoping to get out of the programme?

I am hoping to learn how to set realistic goals for myself and work towards building a future that is better for me. I also want someone I can speak to each week, as I do not currently have that support at home with family.

Anything else you would like to tell us?

I think mentoring is great for young people, they have someone to talk to and build their goals with.

Tell us about a story that meant a lot to you (not necessarily SAYes related). Having support from SAYes at a time where I had been through a rough break up; was living alone; and feeling super isolated - I felt so supported. The first week I contacted them they were fast at getting in touch. I had a mentor within two weeks. My mental health was not great and I was at an extremely low point in my life. Having someone to talk to every week, whilst I was feeling lost and super lonely, helped me build my life back up. I am now happy in the choices that I am making and am feeling more supported.

What are the top three things that you learnt from the programme?

How to talk more to the people around me. Goal setting can be easy if you think of it as a stepby-step process. If you put work into taking care of yourself, then your mental health can improve.

What message would you give new/potential mentees?

Go for it, you only get one life. If you do not feel like you have anyone to talk to, SAYes is for you. They are committed and will not let you down. It has been the best experience for me and I hope other young people get to experience that too.

Introduction

Our Vision & Mission

At SAYes our vision is to become the world’s leading provider of youth mentoring, accelerating an end to social poverty and inequality.

Our mission is to design, deliver and support high-quality youth mentorship programmes, that measurably and sustainably improve life outcomes for young people, and contribute to a world of inspired and informed leaders of social change.

Method

Our Model

SAYes has developed a comprehensive, integrated and systematic model of mentoring and transition planning, designed to improve the quality and consistency of relational support, and therefore the motivational impact of intervention content available to young people. This approach is characterised by skilled mentoring techniques, structured and professionally supported transition planning, and actionable intervention tools, tactics and strategies. High-value relationships are especially motivating for young people living under conditions of social poverty and inequality, impacting their decision making and behaviour, and improving life outcomes, for all us, far into the future.

Our Programmes

SAYes works with independent volunteers and business teams internationally. We provide high-impact Mentorship Programmes designed to improve life outcomes for children and young adults (16 – 32 years of age) affected by social poverty and inequality. We currently serve mentees in South Africa and the UK and continue to extend our support internationally. All SAYes Mentorship Programmes carefully select, screen and train mentors, and inclusively recruit, train and onboard mentees. Mentors and mentees are matched and contracted for a full cycle (7-9 months) of weekly (1-hour) one-to-one mentoring sessions. Each match is assigned a SAYes Transition Specialist, providing professional and personalised monitoring and support from contracting through to graduation. Throughout our programmes matches have access to regular expert-led group classes and intervention content, built for and with young people, and targeting key life domains. After their graduation, alumni support is available to both mentors and

mentees, and where possible mentees are offered a new mentor and another programme cycle to continue expanding and enriching perspective, social capital and social security.

Our Objectives & Outputs

Consistent with the principle of effectiveness, we predict the impact of each SAYes Programme in an Objectives and Outputs statement drafted prior to programme commencement. This includes defined objectives, outputs and evaluation metrics. In terms of objectives common to all programmes:

• With mentees, we seek to improve their life outcomes (including impact on independence and well-being domains) and life chances (including changes in perspective, social capital and social security, and changes in the quality of decision-making and consistency of healthy practices)

• With mentors we seek to improve their approach to social change and community engagement; their personal and professional development; their knowledge and skills of mentoring and transition planning; and their perception of impact (i.e., sustainable efficacy)

• With business partners we seek to improve the quality and reach of their social and community impact initiatives, staff engagement with diversity, equality and inclusivity (including awareness and sensitivity to social change objectives), employee engagement (including access to adjacent personal and professional growth opportunities), and knowledge and skills of inclusive leadership

• Additional impact assessments (for mentors, mentees and partners) are introduced for SAYes Programmes that deliver targeted group level programme interventions and/or entail additional partner objectives (e.g., improve

transferrable skills, employability, pro-social behaviour, school attendance, violence reduction, reduced recidivism)

Our Monitoring & Evaluation

SAYes monitors programme rollout extensively, gathering weekly data on 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 transition planning content by life domain. We monitor group session attendance (i.e., workgroups, masterclasses and support groups) and request subjective ratings and reviews for all of these sessions (as well as for interview, training and matching sessions). For all programmes we measure and report on the perceived quality of the social change experience with SAYes. Where applicable we also request programme ratings and reviews from participating partner organisations (i.e., referring partners and/or associated third parties).

For evaluations, SAYes Programmes are all assessed internally, including a consolidated quantitative and qualitative impact report designed to inform the iteration of each programme cycle. Measures include survey based self-report rating scales, open-ended questions, and behavioural reports on community level indicators. Third-party ratings and reports (e.g., from relevant stakeholders such as teachers, managers, colleagues) as well as psychometric test scores (including pre and post evaluations) are available for programmes delivering group level intervention content. We additionally seek out and engage external evaluation partners, including academic institutions and specialist youth units, to ensure our work is rigorously assessed and available to the wider community of youth mentoring organisations.

Mentee Impact (2022)

This impact report considers SAYes Programmes as gauged by a subset of young people who participated as mentees in 2022. Specifically, we report on mentees graduating or active after the middle of May 2022 (see Outcomes 2021 for mentees graduating before this date). Of the 91 mentees in this cohort (out of 137 matches supported at any point in 2022), 71 (78%) have graduated, 7 (8%) had an early closure, and 13 (14%) have yet to graduate (i.e., will graduate in the second quarter of 2023). Across all programmes:

• 69 (75%) mentees had matches initiated in 2022

• 36 (40%) mentees were care experienced

• 68% of mentees were female, 30% male, 2% non-binary

• 49 (54%) mentees were matched through business and NPO partnerships (71% of new matches)

•

16 (18%) mentees were based in the UK

For the current report we surveyed 65 of the 71 graduating mentees. Surveys were carried out by Transition Specialists and occurred at least one week after match graduation via voice or video call. In some cases, mentees (and all mentors) completed surveys themselves via an electronic survey link. In this report we aggregate feedback from across SAYes Programmes, including Business Partner Programmes (two Programmes), NPO Partner Programmes (one Programme), the UK Pilot Programme (with various groups of young people including but not limited to those with care experience), SA Care Experienced Programmes (including three SA based Children’s Homes Programmes and a SA-based ‘care leaver’ Programme), and Independent Programmes (including alumni who have graduated from Schools and CBO Programmes in years prior). Where possible we include analysis by specific programme.

Results (Quantitative)

Impact on life chances and life outcomes

100% of mentees said having a mentor positively affected their life (52% ‘life-changing’, 38% ‘much positive impact’ and 9% ‘some positive impact’) . This is a similar impact figure as reported in 2020 and 2021. When examining the reasons mentees gave for these ratings, we identify themes corresponding to the skills of mentorship trained at SAYes - specifically guidance (in building perspective), advocacy (in building social capital and affordances), and support (in building secure social bonds/social security). Qualitative examples of which are provided on page 23.

100% of mentees thought that having a mentor positively improved their choices related to independence (45% ‘life-changing’, 44% ‘much positive’, 11% ‘some positive’). Again, this is a near identical result to 2020 and 2021. Mentees work on transition plans organised by domain. When asked at the end of the programme cycle about impact, mentees thought the area where having a mentor most improved their independence was Work & Money (41%), followed by Education & Learning (36%) and Home & Family (13%). These have consistently been reported as the top

“Having a mentor gave me the opportunity to have someone who could help/guide me through the challenges of trying to be the best version of myself and at the perspective’s that I have on life.”

“My mentor helped me to see things in a different perspective and weigh out my options.”

“It allowed me to set goals and have someone to hold me accountable and motivate me throughout the process. My mentor has really changed the way I view achieving my goals.”

“I never had a plan set out for my goals. My mentor has been there to help and guide me. I got to know myself more.”

“I am more equipped now as to simplifying my goals and do something every day to reach them.”

“I had the chance to discuss my thoughts and feelings through with someone cool with an interesting perspective of life.”

“Supported everything I brought up. For example, applying for a degree which I figured that I loved. She made me figure out what I love doing and how I can make that my career.”

“It has helped me in different aspects of life and helped me grow in many ways. It has helped me in different aspects of life”

“I was able to see how much progress I’ve made in the past couple of months. It boosted my confidence and my experience with my mentor.”

independence domains for several years although Work & Money is now the topped ranked domain (over Education & Learning). 5% of mentees selected Community & Citizenship, with the remaining 5% selecting Sport & Recreation as the biggest impact area in independence.

Within each independence domain mentees also rate the extent of impact. Ratings of more than

“This year has been a rollercoaster ride for me and I don’t think I would have got through it all if I didn’t have someone listening and guiding me along the way.”

“A lot happened! It actually helped me to better myself in a positive way.”

“I am now able to sleep early. I am more self-aware. I have gained a long-time friend.”

“I grew a lot emotionally, physically and mentally. I got a better understanding of who I am and what I want in life and I achieved a lot in this small period of time with my mentor.”

“I help me grow. I feel like she has helped me a lot and in lot of things.”

“You helped me during my difficult time of my life. I am really appreciating the opportunity to be part of this program and I have learned a lot.”

“I felt like I had support every day. And I mattersomeone who wants to listen to me.”

“My life changed since I started taking action and all the advice I got really impacted my friends also.”

“The mentors stuck to the plan, my mentor for example noted down my problems and try to help me as much as possible.”

“It helped me a lot just having someone to talk to. Even just talking about things cos I don’t have anyone to talk certain things with.”

95% positive impact were achieved for Work & Money (98% positive - 37% ‘Life changing’, 39% ‘Much positive’), Home & Family (97% positive40% ‘Life changing’, 39% ‘Much positive’) and Education & Learning (95% positive - 37% ‘Life changing’, 42% ‘Much positive’). Community and Citizenship received an 88% positive impact rating (29% ‘Life changing’) and Sport & Recreation received an 87% positive impact

rating (33% ‘Life changing’). In the choice between ‘Some positive impact’ versus ‘much positive impact’ (to account for socially desirable responding) averages across all domains were consistently in favour of ‘Much positive impact’ and ‘Life changing’. We are confident mentee ratings reflect the impact of the mentoring as young people experience it, and pleased to report once again (for 2020, 2021, and 2022) exceptional impact ratings across all independence domains.

Mentees are also asked how their decision making improved with respect to independence, both in a ranking format and by noting examples of improved decision-making across each independence domain (see page 25). SAYes programming trains mentors to work on different stages of decision making with their mentees - raising consciousness, exploring options, getting a focused plan, and then adjusting and revising to feedback/set-backs.

Mentees felt the largest impact in their decisionmaking process was in focus (i.e., “Yes - I am a lot more focused now than before) at 100% impact, with 79% saying, “Yes - I am a lot more focused now than before”, with the remaining 21% saying, “Yes - I am a little more focused now than before”. The sense of deliberate and focused decision making (agency) in one’s life is an unmistakable sign of the impact of good mentoring, and is emphasised in the SAYes support role (an accessible, responsive, and emotional available approach combined with a balance of demand and responsiveness and clear boundaries). This is a consistently replicated finding from SAYes Programmes over many years and, we are pleased to report, over many different youth contexts (i.e., 100% impact across UK and SA Programmes, across care experienced mentees living in children’s homes and living independently, and across young sport for development coaches in different regions and at different organisations).

The second biggest impact in decision-making was in adjusting to feedback/setbacks (“When it comes to your independence do you feel you can cope with challenges/ setbacks/ changes now more than before?”), also achieving 100% impact ( 76% said, “Yes - a lot”, and 24% said, “Yes - a little”). By programme, while achieving a 100% positive impact rating for UK based mentees, a proportionally higher number of ‘yes – a little’ (67%) versus ‘yes - a lot’ (33%) ratings were reported by UK mentees. This finding is consistent with high levels of mental health distress and discouragement that has been reported in the UK (see The Mental State of the World Report, 2022). Nevertheless, in light of ongoing challenges due to the pandemic, as well as the economic and political disruption of 2022, and (in South Africa) significant infrastructure challenges (power failures), this is once again, a stunningly impressive impact due to mentoring. We believe role modelling of honest reality testing, working constructively with feedback, proactive problem solving and resilience/grit are at the core of this finding.

Ratings for improvements in consciousness (“I am more aware (and accepting) of factors affecting independence now than before”) were high - at 97% impact (83% saying, “Yes - a lot”, and 14% saying, “Yes - a little”). One interesting programme variation here was in our UK pilot – where 100% of mentees rated improvements in this aspect of decision making at the highest rating (and also did so for Focus). The value of improved self-awareness (and self-acceptance) in the context of making life changing decisions cannot be overstated – and is heavily indexed in the SAYes approach to guidance.

Finally, ratings for options explored (i.e., “I see more options and explore more options now than before”) were also high - at 96% impact (77% ‘yes - a lot’, 19% ‘yes - a little’). Expanding the base of options explored in various life domains is essential to creative mentoring, as is the core of

SAYes approach to advocacy (scaffolding and building affordances).

100% of mentees thought that having a mentor positively improved their practices related to well-being (43% ‘life-changing’, 46% ‘much positive impact’, 11% ‘some positive impact’). Mentees thought that the area where having a mentor most improved their well-being was Emotional Health (selected by 45% of mentees ), followed by Identity Health (22%) and Physical

“I can draw up and budget and use my money accordingly.”

“Even though I know that I’m losing my job. I’m so positive and I go internal interviews and do my best. Because I chose to be the best that I’m regardless.”

“Time management, now I know how to work upon time.”

“It was a major focus for me and we definitely worked on it a lot more and the guidance I got through my mentorship was quite a lot. I got good guidance, as well as advice and connections in the workplace.”

“I really learned about balancing school, work and family I have gained that skill.”

“I decided to go back to varsity and get my degree”

“I’ve learned how to read and got back to school.”

“I set a structure to my studies because of my mentor.”

“I have planned out a schedule on when and where I’m going to get my work done and how to manage stress and other overpowering emotions.”

“I gained a lot of perspective from my mentor as she gave me advice & tools I can use to make decisions for my academic future.”

Health (14%). Emotional and Identity health continue a multi-year trend as the top wellbeing related domains. We suspect this reflects the high incidence of mental health challenges which were and remain especially pressing for adolescence. A smaller, through still considerable number, chose Cognitive Health (13%) as the biggest area of impact, while fewer chose Social Health (6%). This last result (i.e., the lower proportional ranking of the social health impact rating) was seen first in 2021 and likely reflects

‘Choosing where to study, how do you handle difficult situations and people.”

“Decided to ask teacher when needing helpbeing more assertive.”

“I am able to make choices with regards to my further studies thanks to my mentors guide.”

“I can now deal with my exam stress and I have better marks then before.”

“I learnt to accept that winning and losing is part of life.”

“I started focusing on my fitness and diet as a result of having my mentor.”

“I’ve tried to use the love that I have for Sport to try to Coach young kids from my community to share my skills.”

“I learned how to prioritise and create a healthy work, family and me time balance, in addition to learning how to build meaningful relationships.”

“I’ve finally opened up about how I self-harm and that have helped”

“I really learned about balancing school, work and family I have gained that skill.”

“It taught to me use the resources I have been given & make use of the opportunity of having a mentor.”

Mentee Impact Report

the ongoing effects of social isolation and social restriction due to the pandemic.

Within each wellbeing domain mentees also rate the extent of impact. Ratings of more than 90% positive impact where achieved across all domains. For Cognitive Health 100% of mentees reported positive impact (44% ‘Life changing’, 45% ‘Much positive’, 1% ‘Some positive’). For Emotional Health 98% of mentees reported positive impact and with the highest proportional ‘Life changing rating’ (48% ‘Life changing’, 36% ‘Much positive’, 15% ‘Some positive’). For Identity Health 97% of mentees reported positive impact (44% ‘Life changing’, 39% ‘Much positive’, 13% ‘Some positive’). For Social Health 95% of mentees reported positive impact (42% ‘Life changing’, 35% ‘Much positive’, 18% ‘Some positive’). Finally, for Physical health 92% of mentees reported positive impact (37% ‘Life changing”, 41% ‘Much Positive’, 14% ‘Some positive’). As with independence domains, self-report ratings in favour of ‘Life changing’ impact across different aspects of well-being speak to the balanced and integrated quality of the SAYes approach to mentoring.

Mentees are also asked how their healthy practices improved with respect to wellbeing, both in a ranking format and by noting examples of healthy practices across each wellbeing domain (see examples on page 27). Mentees felt the largest impact in their healthy practices was in both improvements in self-awareness and selfacceptance (98% positive impact, including 75% ‘yes – a lot’ and 23% ‘yes - a little’) and in focus (98% positive impact, including 75% ‘yes – a lot’ and 23% ‘yes – a little’). Coping with challenges (97% positive impact, including 76% ‘yes – I am lot more able to cope with challenges/setbacks/ changes now than before’ and 18% ‘yes – a little’) and options explored (97% positive impact, including 71% ‘yes – a lot’ and 26% ‘yes – a little’) achieved similar positive impact due to mentoring.

Improved Independence & Well-being (Community Indicators)

While community indicators are not predictors of long-run improvements in life chances and life outcomes, for completeness we include indictors based on a mentee self-report survey.

• 47% of mentees were in formal education during 2022

– 55% of these passed a grade or level

– 41% of these are still currently doing a course

– 3% did not pass a grade or level

• (3) mentees were in matric during 2022

– 1 of these were still doing matric at the time of graduation (i.e., mid 2022)

– 2 passed matric (with Higher Certificate pass)

• 59% of mentees gained work experience ‘due the mentorship and/or its impact’

• 84% of mentees reported ‘gaining, refining, or improving work related transferable skills due to the mentorship.’ (See examples on page 28)

• 77% if mentees are currently employed

• 1 mentee is living in residential care

• 3 mentees are in alternative care (safehouse, NPO supported accommodation, special needs supported accommodation)

• 1 mentee is in university residence

• Of those living independently

– 72% are in stable accommodation (‘living in a place and I know I care stay here for a while’) compared to 28% living in unstable accommodation (‘living in a place but unsure how long I can stay here’)

– None are currently homeless

• 4 (6%) of mentees became or had a partner become pregnant in 2022

– All pregnancies resulted from consensual intercourse though pregnancy was unplanned in 3 cases

“My mentor helped me in dealing and coping with stress while I was at school.”

“It helped me focus and not have a mental breakdown about small things”

“We are still working on emotional health and I am still trying to balance myself. But i have managed to fight back when there is a bit of unfairness and I know when to put boundaries.”

“Being open & honest about how I feel. Digging deep and unboxing the past and working through them by gaining perspective & methods of handling situations.”

“Emotionally my mentor was there for me and I Learnt how to deal with my emotions.”

“So when it came to my emotional health we worked on doing activities that brought me joy like painting and going on hikes. We spoke a lot about mental health and physical health.”

“Meditation. Exercise. A lot of rest. And writing important stuff down.”

– There was one spontaneous abortion

– There was one induced abortion

– There was one birth

– Status of one pregnancy was not disclosed

• 81% of mentees are citizens of the country in which they are currently resident

– 16% not citizens in their country of residence though they have documentation in support of residency

– 3% are not citizens in their country of residence and do not currently have documentation in support of residency

• 1 mentee was in conflict with the law in 2022

• 84% of mentees never used cigarettes in 2022

– 6% did so daily

“I’m more aware of the thoughts that flow into my brain now and use writing as a coping mechanism when mentally detrimental thoughts flow in.”

“In struggle I tend to know how to make myself a bit more relaxed that way I can take information in easier.”

“I am now more self-aware than before. I know what I like and value more than before. I am aware of aspects that can mould my identity even more.”

“I wasn’t sure of what I’m capable of or can I do what I’m capable of. My mentor built confidence in me. Made me believe everything is possible with telling yourself that you can do anything.”

“My mentor encouraged me to start taking walks and those are the highlights of most of my weeks. Getting out of my room and taking a walk to the park to think or not think and just be.”

“I began to take more walks and dance more often, I just didn’t understand that dancing and walking was a form of physical exercise.”

• 78% of mentees never used cannabis in 2022

– 10% did so weekly

• 26% of mentees never used alcohol in 2022

– 28% less than a few times a year

– 18% every few months

– 14% monthly

– 14% weekly or every few weeks

• 100% of mentees would recommend SAYes mentoring to other young people (97% ‘yes –a lot’)

• 100% of mentees say SAYes gives them a good feeling (including 74% ‘I love SAYes’, 18% ‘Really good feeling’, and 8% ‘Good feeling’). Some of the reasons for why mentees say they feel the way they do about SAYes are given below (see examples on page 32).

Mentee Impact Report

“Organisational skills. Time management. Communication skills. Conflict Resolution skills. Leadership skills. Time management and Punctuality.”

“Social work, I really developed my social work skills and as a result they are very helpful to the community.”

“I learned to control my anger. I grew to love kids and my work in the gardening more. I learned to be transparent.”

“Being trained to train others was the best highlights.”

“I have learnt to spend within my budget.”

“I didn’t really know how I would answer in an interview or how to correctly put words and because of my mentor I have an amazing reliable job in a big company.”

“Being patient. Learning more about the company or product before interviews. Showing interest. Putting more efforts. More coaching skills. Listening before I can answer and a good way of reacting to situations and makeup gigs/doing facials and understanding different types of skin and what products to use.”

“How to manage my emotional health along my income.”

“I did a plumbing course this year. I also tutored a grade 6 boy in schoolwork related matters.”

“Learning how to deal with difficult people.”

“How to do proposals that can get funding for my business.”

“I became more confident and outgoing in terms of job exploring.”

“I have refined my communication skills”

“Building eminence in the workplace. I learned how to track my performance currency and how to prepare for performance reviews and discussions with line managers/leadership.”

“Good communication skills. Collaborative and interpersonal skills. Marketing and sales skills. Leadership skills.”

“Communication. I learnt to communicate without hurting other people’s feelings as well as ensuring that my intentions are not misunderstood.”

“I have to play a role of mentor to my team and Active listening and not giving solutions however creating a space for my team to bring their own solutions to the table.”

“Well I was always late but I learnt the importance of time management. To be bold and stand firm to get my facts right and speak up.”

“Being okay with standing out and not letting difficult people get to me.”

“Improving communication skills was a big one for me.”

“My leadership skills has improved and my facilitation skills.”

“My passion for work got improved”

“How to legitimize myself through my work and profile.”

“My leadership skills have really improved.”

“My work experience is that at my workplace I’m a mentor my self to my colleagues and friends also to our participants I’m making change to my team. I’m helping others to be independent and they are making good choices about life.”

“I am a coach and coaching needs listening and observation so I learnt that this year.”

Results (Qualitative)

Impact on life chances and life outcomes

In the qualitative report that follows, we provide comments from the mentees in our 2022 Programmes. Each comment represents a snapshot on a young person’s mentoring relationship and on the impact of this relationship on their life. In advance of each set of (unedited) responses we also summarise important and common themes emerging from the young people using Chat GPT3.5 OpenAI software. Consistent with quantitative feedback, mentee responses were impressively positive and informative, reflecting highly impactful and meaningful positive life changes of relevance to young people.

SAYes Programmes seek to improve life changes and life outcomes by reducing social poverty and social inequality through transition mentoring. The quotes on page 23 include mentee responses as organised thematically by the author into changes in perspective, social capital and social security, showing the specificity of SAYes Programmes in addressing social poverty and social inequality. Directly below is the AI software analysis:

The comments from mentees illustrate the impact of mentorship with SAYes. For example, one mentee stated, “My mentor helped me to see things in a different perspective and weigh out my options.” This illustrates how mentorship can offer new insights and help mentees make better decisions.

Another mentee said, “It allowed me to set goals and have someone to hold me accountable and motivate me throughout the process. My mentor has really changed the way I view achieving my goals.” This example shows how mentorship can help mentees set and achieve their goals, as well as provide support and motivation throughout the process.

Several mentees also mentioned that mentorship helped them with self-reflection and personal growth. One said, “Through having a mentor, I have been able to realise abilities that I didn’t think I had (selfawareness). I’ve learned a lot about myself and have grown my personal brand through help of professional advice from someone with years of work as well learned about life in general in terms of relationships and early mistakes to avoid as a young adults.” This highlights how mentorship can help mentees become more self-aware and grow both personally and professionally.

Emotional support is another important theme that emerges from the mentees’ comments. One mentee said, “It gave me peace of mind knowing someone was there to listen to me who was non-judgmental.” This example shows how mentorship can provide a safe and supportive space for mentees to share their thoughts and feelings.

Finally, the comments illustrate how mentorship can help mentees develop relationships with mentors and others in their field. One mentee stated, “I made a lot of connections during and after our mentoring program, I now know people in the industry doing the same thing I’m doing because of him.” This demonstrates how mentorship can help mentees build their professional network and connect with others in their field.

Next, we asked mentees to provide examples of improved decision making due to mentoring. We organise their responses by independence life domain (see examples on page 25) to show the range of impact achieved by SAYes programmes. Directly below is the AI software analysis:

1. Financial management and budgeting: Many mentees mentioned how their mentor helped them learn how to budget and manage their

money more effectively. For example, one mentee said that their mentor helped them create a budget plan for themselves so that they could get on track with their spending. Another mentee said that their mentor gave them important points on how to save and get ready for interviews.

2. Career guidance and support: Several mentees spoke about how their mentor helped them with their work and career. One mentee said that their mentor supported them to move their business and made them think of the pros and cons. Another mentee mentioned how their mentor gave them guidance, advice, and connections in the workplace.

3. Education and academic support: Many mentees noted that their mentor helped them with their studies and education. For instance, one mentee said that their mentor helped them plan out a schedule for their studies and manage their time better. Another mentee mentioned how their mentor gave them advice and tools they could use to make decisions for their academic future.

4. Mental health and wellness: A number of mentees commented on how their mentor helped them with their mental health and wellness. For example, one mentee said that their mentor taught them how to manage their mental health through various practices and how to tackle society’s issues. Another mentee mentioned how their mentor gave them guidance on stress management and reinforcing positive thinking.

5. Personal growth and development: Many mentees spoke about how their mentor helped them with their personal growth and development. For instance, one mentee said that their mentor helped them put in boundaries at home and move out. Another mentee mentioned how their mentor helped them learn to put themselves first and take care of themselves while also taking care of their family.

6. Confidence and self-esteem: Some mentees noted that their mentor helped them with their confidence and self-esteem. For example, one mentee said that their mentor helped them learn the act of urgency and self-assurance. Another mentee mentioned how their mentor helped them open up about how they self-harm and that had helped them.

Overall, the mentees highlighted how their mentor helped them in a variety of ways, from financial management to personal growth and development. The mentorship program offered them guidance, support, and resources that allowed them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

We next asked mentees to provide examples of improved healthy practices due to mentoring. We then organise their responses by well-being life domain in the quotes on page 27. Directly below is the AI software analysis:

From the provided quotes, it is evident that SAYes mentorship has had a significant positive impact on the mentees’ lives. Common themes include:

1. Emotional wellbeing and mental health: Mentees learned how to manage their emotions better and cope with stress. For instance, one mentee mentioned how their mentor helped them prevent mental breakdowns over small issues, while another described learning to accept and embrace emotions like sadness or disappointment.

2. Self-awareness and personal growth: The mentorship program helped mentees become more self-aware and confident in their abilities. One mentee shared that their mentor built confidence in them and made them believe they could achieve anything.

3. Boundaries and communication: Mentees learned how to set boundaries and improve their communication skills, enabling them to develop healthier relationships with others. A mentee

spoke about working on boundaries and positive self-image through a personality course with their mentor.

4. Coping mechanisms and mindfulness: Mentors introduced various coping mechanisms, such as: meditation; writing; and mindfulness; which helped mentees manage their thoughts and emotions more effectively. One mentee mentioned using writing as a coping mechanism when dealing with negative thoughts.

5. Physical health and activity: Many mentees reported becoming more physically active and engaging in regular exercise. One mentioned going for walks to the park to destress, while another started swimming for the first time since 2018.

6. Personal development and growth: Mentees gained new perspectives and learned to embrace new experiences, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and becoming more open to change. For example, one mentee shared how they began to take more walks and dance more often, realising that these activities were enjoyable forms of physical exercise.

7. Social connections and support: The mentorship program helped mentees develop better social skills, enabling them to form stronger connections with others and improve their overall mental wellbeing. One mentee described becoming more open to forming friendships and attending events related to their interests.

In summary, SAYes mentorship has played a crucial role in fostering emotional wellbeing, personal growth, and healthy lifestyles among mentees. The program has provided them with valuable tools and strategies to navigate life’s challenges and embrace new opportunities, as demonstrated by the numerous illustrative examples from the mentees’ experiences.

We ask a subset of mentees to provide examples of transferable work-related skills gained due to

mentoring. We present these in Box 4. Directly below is the AI software analysis:

The quotes provided by mentees regarding the impact of their mentorship with SAYes highlight several important and common themes related to skills development and personal growth. One key area of focus was the development of practical skills such as: organisational skills; time management; communication skills; conflict resolution skills; and leadership skills. For example, one mentee stated that they, ‘refined [their] communication skills…’ and another mentee mentioned that they learned ‘how to track [their] performance currency and how to prepare for performance reviews and discussions with line managers/leadership.’

Another common theme was the importance of self-awareness and personal development. Mentees reported learning about themselves and their emotions, with one stating that they ‘learned to control [their] anger’ and another noting that they learned ‘how to manage [their] emotional health along [their] income.’

Additionally, some mentees received guidance on job-related skills, such as job interview tips and how to write proposals for funding.

Leadership development was another important theme, with several mentees mentioning that their leadership skills improved through the mentorship program. For instance, one mentee stated that they learned how to ‘create a space for [their] team to bring their own solutions to the table,’ while another noted that their ‘facilitation skills’ improved.

Overall, the mentorship program offered mentees a variety of practical skills and personal development opportunities, which helped them to become more confident and capable in their personal and professional lives.

Mentee Impact Report

“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 from completely different across oceans and wouldn’t have even been in their dreams had it not.”

“It was a place like home where I can share everything with my mentor n I didn’t want to miss a week without attending because of the joy n enjoying the programme.”

“SAYes change my way of thinking to other things and helped me to achieve my goals.”

“When I had a problem SAYes was willing to offer a solution, they encouraged responsibility, they made rules and all rules were to be adhered to. They communicated with us and made us feel welcome.”

“SAYes helped me become better version of myself and build more confidence. This program made me feel good about myself helped me build my self-esteem.”

“I really love SAYes they have impacted my life and I’m also a better person for the people around me I would recommend to a lot of youth who feels lost.”

“Because it’s a good organization. Connecting a mentor and a mentee is really something life changing.”

“Strangers become friends. You learn different cultures and diversity within the culture.”

“The Youth often struggle with mental issues, they have no one to talk to so SAYes should continue with their initiative and take more people under their wings.”

“I definitely think alot of the mentees and mentors benefit from the programme and meeting new people from different backgrounds that has more experience as you is a great opportunity for you to learn more.”

“Because of SAYes I have experienced some amazing mentors and have had wonderful experiences. SAYes helped me to build networks. They are the body of people outside of the home and heading into varsity a lot more possible. I can’t picture where I am now without SAYes.”

“Where SAYes is concerned, you’ve got this whole programme that is focused on you. Thats a great thing about the mentorship is that it’s a different person every time so you are always learning different things everytime you just need to tap in.”

“SAYes members are friendly and easy to talk too. They are willing to help where they can and if they can’t they will explain why that is. They love all the people that they work with and love what they do.”

“It impacts my life in a positive way.”

“I helps a lot especially with a person being independent. It helps me grow in many ways and it helps me to become a better person.”

“To have someone that you can talk to and be honest with - nothing is shared - everything is confidential - getting guidance and advice.”

“It is a great programme that is very supportive.”

“SAYes really has a good impact on young people’s lives. I feel that SAYes has made a change in my life by offering me with a positive mentor. Someone that was always there for me.”

“SAYes is really making a change in young people’s lives.”

“It makes you open to lot of things and also to be able to challenge yourself and in goal setting.”

“SAYes really is doing by all means possible to empower youth.”

“It has had a lot of impact for me to get motivated - I am healing and everything is kept confidentialSAYes give me a good feeling , I really appreciate an happy for who I am.”

Finally, we ask mentees to give us reasons for why they feel the way they do about SAYes. We present their responses on page 32. Directly below is the AI software analysis: Some common themes and feedback from mentees regarding their experience with SAYes Mentoring include:

1. Personal growth and development - many mentees reported that SAYes helped them to become better versions of themselves, develop more confidence and self-esteem, change their way of thinking, and achieve their goals.

Example: “SAYes helped me become a better version of myself and build more confidence. This program made me feel good about myself helped me build my self-esteem.”

2. Support system - several mentees mentioned that SAYes provided them with a great support system, a place like home where they could share everything with their mentor, and someone who would listen to them.

Example: “It was a place like home where I can share everything with my mentor and I didn’t want to miss a week without attending because of the joy and enjoying the program.”

3. Mentorship and guidance - SAYes was praised for providing an opportunity to connect with a mentor who would guide, advise, and offer free support, something that is often difficult to find in South Africa.

Example: “Finding a mentor or getting someone to commit their time for you on a weekly basis to give you free advice and guide you through life is nearly impossible. In a country like SA where most young adults are raised in single parent households, this is a great initiative to provide them with guidance and support.”

4. Life-changing experiences - many mentees reported that SAYes had a positive impact on

their lives, helped them to grow and flourish, and offered life-changing experiences that they would not have had otherwise.

Example: “SAYes has given me the best experience and better knowledge on things that I didn’t know. Talking with someone who is outside of your circle means a lot because my Mentor did give me so advice on things that I was straggling with and I value her so much.”

5. Diversity and cultural exchange - SAYes was praised for providing an opportunity to meet and learn from people of different backgrounds, to learn about different cultures, and to form lifetime friendships.

Example: “It provided people the opportunity to make lifetime friends from completely different across oceans and wouldn’t have even been in their dreams had it not.”

6. Empowerment - SAYes was praised for empowering young people, helping them to focus on things that can build their future, and giving them opportunities to start their lives from where they left off.

Example: “It empowers young people to do good things and focus more on what they want to achieve in all aspects of life.”

Overall, it seems that SAYes Mentoring has had a positive impact on the lives of many young people in South Africa, providing them with a support mentorship, and guidance that has helped them to grow and develop

I got in touch with SAYes after making a connection with members of the SAYes community on Twitter. Lockdown was on and off, and I felt like there was something needed in my life to give myself that extra push as I reached the ripe ‘old age’ of my mid to late 20s.

I was matched with a mentor who came from a different kind of background from me. This gave me an interesting and distinct difference of perspective to life to some people around me. It was great to have a sounding board, to be able to discuss my ideas out loud and chat with a person who had a wealth of life experience. We got to know each other and began forming some goals to focus my time on during our time together. I liked the flexibility of the mentoring, how it didn’t matter if the goals changed over time, whilst life dealt its hand, and meant we could consider my options on a week-by-week basis.

The goals we made were helpful, for both my professional and educational life, as well as my personal life. I built up more confidence to go back out and engage in life when up until then, I had been living life as a recluse. As a result, I have built up a small community around me, leading to amazing opportunities and an improved happiness to life with the best of friends. I feel like the mentoring helped me become a proper member of society rather than just sitting on the side lines.

If I were a young person again and might be thinking of signing up to SAYes, I’d say go for it. It can be super awkward at first chatting to someone brand new but if you’re brave and take the plunge it can really change your life.

My childhood dream was to become the Prime Minister, but unfortunately for approximately 101 reasons, I cannot become the Prime Minister! The universe must have felt bad about that because out of the blue a similar opportunity came up (hopefully this was not a once in a lifetime opportunity because I want to see more of us in roles like this). I ended up taking on a role with the University of Cambridge where I get to utilise my life experience and skills - plus assist with some amazing research.

Without a mentor role in my life, I probably would not have come out of my shell as much so would not have had achieved what I have now. It is definitely worth a shot!

Plans for my future are to try and branch out my own brand of training for professionals; carers; social care workers; mental health professionals; the police; and parts of the justice system. That way people can learn from some of the events that have happened in my life. Then in retirement, I will volunteer in a shelter.

Eventually, over time through the workshops, SAYes held every few weeks every ITP, I started forming a roadmap of where I wanted to be and the things I wanted to explore. I am glad I stuck around, the mentors I have come across were not only there to be a listening figure, but they were also there to guide me. Being able to talk to someone - without them telling you how or when to do things - can be very empowering because it eventually led to critical thinking and strategic planning. I have had some amazing mentors who have left a huge mark on my life. I can still seek advice, meet up with them and do recreational activities together.

I recently started an online job at a start-up company which I am excited about. Another

I have been with SAYES for since 2017. I first heard about them from my peers who were being mentored. They described their experience as fun and interesting so got me curious. At first, I had absolutely no idea what I was signing up for, I knew I wanted a mentor when I signed up, but I wasn’t sure why.

activity that I am involved is in the climbing community presenting introduction courses. It is for individuals who would not otherwise know about climbing. It is fun introducing them to the sport that was once introduced to me.

My advice to prospective mentees would be to join SAYes. My interactions with my mentor were always confidential, fun, and sometimes emotional. I felt safe and comfortable and was eventually able to open up.

I am glad that I joined SAYes and was able to utilise the avenues of help that were available. I will always be grateful for guidance and mentorship, and plan to train to become a mentor myself.

Can you tell us how many years have you have been involved with SAYes?

I have been involved with SAYes since 2016, 2017, 2018 and then just recently again in 2021 and 2022. It’s been quite a few years.

How did you hear about SAYes?

One of the SAYes people came to the orphanage I used to stay in, in 2016 and they were telling us about the programme so I just participated just to see what it was about and ever since then I’ve been part of the programme.

What attracted you to sign up to SAYes? What attracted me to sign up was for the fact that the person that was telling us about SAYes sounded like a genuine person. They sounded serious and also for the fact that it was a youth programme and they help you with anything that you need help with.

What are you hoping to get out of the programme? What I am hoping to get out of the programme is I want to become successful with the help of SAYes.

What does being on the alumni involve? Being on the alumni involves us meeting and doing things together which still has to happen this year. I think we are more than 20 alumni. I do know other people that also used to do the programme and I do meet with them and talk to them even today. Some of them are still on the programme and some of them are not.

What kind of things did you and your mentor explore when you were a mentee?

I remember having a mentor when I was still in high school and I was still not knowing what I wanted to do and so I got into the subject of hospitality. I tried tasting different cuisines with my mentor. So our meetings used to be that my mentor would fetch me from the home and we would go and eat Chinese food and other food cuisine that we could eat. I was also exposed to a wood work furniture shop through SAYes. That’s what I also explored and it was actually nice.

How does having a mentor help you?

Having a mentor actually helped me a lot because I wouldn’t have gotten to do my job shadowing at the mount Nelson Hotel if it wasn’t for SAYes and my mentor. It was really helpful.

Is there any part of your mentoring journey that you remember as having the biggest impact on you?

The biggest impact was with my first mentor because at first it was really hard for me to open up and I was someone who had problems with confidence and stuff. I was completely shy. But then I used to have quiet time with my mentor and then we used to do meditation. We would watch videos of motivation and I started coming out of my shell and was less shy. I started being confident because of her and her help.

What advice would you give to someone who was thinking of joining SAYes?

I would tell them to do it. Just go for it for your own benefit.

What are you doing right now?

I am currently doing a hospitality course and I am in N6 now. For the next 18 months I will be doing an internship and then I will get my diploma.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future is to finish my course and get a nice job within the hospitality sector.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to add?

One day some day I would like to be a part of the SAYes group and give back to the community and be a mentor myself.

Financial Review: Year Ending 2022 – South Africa

Financial Review: Year Ending 2022 – United Kingdom

SAYes Mission

To inspire and inform leaders of social change through mentoring.

SAYes Vision

To end social poverty.

SAYes

c/o Nimble Group

to and through of social change

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Tel.: +27 (0)21 830 0795

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Web: www.sayesmentoring.org

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SAYes Mentoring Ltd. charity no. 1127701 and company no. 6693065, registered in England and Wales.

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