Our Amathuba journey starts when Mentees are in Grade 6 and applying to high school. We make an effort to understand their unique backgrounds by working closely with our partner primary schools. This enables us to present their profiles effectively and advocate for financial support from partner high schools. Once they receive an offer from a high school, we conduct a series of onboarding workshops at the end of Grade 7 to introduce them to the Amathuba community and our Mentorship Programme, helping them prepare for the transition to high school.
We also support them during uniform fittings and facilitate conversations with the school’s bursar regarding financial commitments. Before they begin high school, each Mentee will have met their assigned Amathuba Mentor, signed the Amathuba Mentee Pledge, and completed a Memorandum of Agreement with Amathuba, their family, and the partner high school to clarify roles and responsibilities.
At this stage, we implement our Mentorship Programme with the help of trained and experienced Mentors. Each Mentee is assigned a Mentor who supports them, listens to their concerns, helps them stay focused on their goals, and acts as a link between their home life and school.
The Mentorship Programme covers a wide range of important topics, including our core values, guidance for academic and career paths, issues relevant to teenagers, the qualities of healthy relationships, and how to contribute positively to society. Mentors regularly meet with their Mentees in person throughout the school year, both at home and at school.
Amathuba also hosts events, known as Golden Circle Network evenings, where we feature inspirational speakers and discussions. Additionally, we work with a skilled Industrial Psychologist who develops personalized educational plans for our Grade 9 and Grade 11 Mentees. Throughout their time in high school, Mentees have various opportunities to share feedback about their personal experiences and the Mentorship Programme overall. Their Mentors provide a safe space for Mentees to express any needs they may have for resources that would enhance their high school experience. For instance, this could include items like rugby boots, formal outfits for dances, laptops for schoolwork, money for sports trips, data for studying at home, transportation to key meetings, and opportunities for work experience.
From our experience, Mentees often feel most vulnerable during the period between when they receive their Matric results in mid-January and the start of university in early February of their post-Matric year. During this time, there is a lot of uncertainty due to NSFAS applications, limited resources, lack of information, unrealistic expectations, entering unfamiliar situations, and adjusting to adult life. This can leave our Mentees feeling "stuck."
To address these challenges, we have established important structures and tools to help them and their families navigate these significant decisions with clarity and a problem-solving approach. Once the Mentees begin their university journey, our Mentors continue to support them from a distance, while older Mentees already attending the same universities offer on-the-ground assistance during orientation and other forms of in-house support.
As Mentees approach the completion of their undergraduate degrees, the guidance (scaffolding) that Amathuba has provided over the past ten years gradually tapers off, helping to reduce their dependence on our support, and eventually be able to stand on their own two feet. Ultimately the goal is for our Mentees to then turn around and give back to those still coming through Amathuba.
Our Goal - Confident, balanced, well-educated and authentic individuals who know who they are and what they stand for;
individuals who are ready to contribute to the world around them.