How Mentorship Changes Lives

South Africa’s youth face enormous challenges, leaving many deeply despondent.

A staggering 37% of them are neither unemployed nor studying, with consequences that could include long-term joblessness, dependence on grants, mental health problems, and marginalisation from society.

Yet a new study shows how a simple intervention – just a few hours of coaching – can bring hope to young people and shift their prospects by helping them find further education and jobs.

“An amazing 40% of the youth in the study either found work or entered a course of study after just three mentorship sessions.”

Prof Lauren Graham of the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg has been conducting research with young people for more than two decades, most of this among the unemployed. “Time and time again, we came across young people who were disillusioned about the future; who had been failed by society but internalised this as their own personal failure thinking, ‘What’s wrong with me, that I can’t get work?’” she remembers.

From despondency to resilience

Many went through cycles of discouragement, then resilience – when they would knock on doors with their CVs once more – followed by despondency, self-doubt, and even shame once again.

Then she met Ariane de Lannoy, who had observed the same pattern in her own research. With several partners, they devised the Basic Package of Support (BPS), which provides not only mentorship but also forms a “Community of Practice” with officials from clinics, police, Home Affairs and other government and civil society bodies, to enable better provisions of needed documents, services and opportunities, such as ID documents and National Senior certificates, which school-leavers often struggle to obtain.

Between 2022 and 2024, in a pilot study for the BPS programme, 1,700 young people were mentored in three settlements close to major cities: Atlantis in the Western Cape, Orange Farm in Gauteng, and Cato Manor in KwaZulu-Natal.

The coaches were qualified child and youth care workers who received extra training to mentor youths in the programme. The aim was to help young people to assess their situations and clarify their goals, refer them to services that might help them, and enable them to find pathways into further studies and earning an income.

“Why is it so hard? Where did I go wrong? am I just here to hustle?” 

One participant in the study, Nolwazi, has been caring for her two younger brothers since her parents died. “Why is it so hard?” she would ask herself. “Where did I go wrong? Am I just here to hustle?

“But after joining the programme, I started to feel less alone and confused. I was heard and offered practical help.”

The youth in the study showed improvements in three key areas: firstly, they felt supported, were more resilient, and had better mental health outcomes than previously. Secondly, they were more competent and knowledgeable about how to access the systems and services they needed to achieve their goals.

Thirdly, 40% of them took up opportunities to learn or earn income after just three mentorship sessions. More of the youth took up training or education than work, which is “hardly surprising in the context of low job growth,” the researchers said.

The programme was modelled on the EU Youth Guarantee programme for youth who drop out of learning and earning opportunities, but designed for the South African context.

A successful sports massage business

Another participant, Shanise Jeniker, dreamed of studying physiotherapy but when her brother died in her matric year, her grief left her unable to achieve the necessary results. After her BPS coach pointed her in the direction of massage therapy, she landed an internship and then a permanent job with an established sports massage business. Supported by her coach, she later took up business skills and other training, along with seed funding from the National Youth Development Agency, and launched her own business. It has grown from strength to strength.

She has worked at the SA Telkom Netball Championships and supported three indoor provincial tournaments. Her clients now include international visitors and top athletes.

“I now feel like I’ve got this! My journey continues but I’m no longer alone.”

“My coach, Jo-Lynn, has been a huge inspiration,” she said. “She’s always motivating me, boosting my confidence, and putting my name forward for every opportunity. Joining BPS was one of the best decisions I could’ve made.”

Shastri Goliath was raised by his grandmother and, he said, “was always in trouble, violent, and rude to my teachers, because I had no support. I was always bullied at school. The teachers broke me down, calling me a disgrace. They didn’t have the patience to understand me.

“Here at BPS, they see our potential. They want us to win. When I opened up to my mentor, it felt like the best thing I had ever done. They helped me tap into the thing I love most. The people at BPS give you a hand out, to lift you up.”

Shastri is now working and training other youth. “It would be selfish of me to keep all the things I know now to myself. Honestly, I just want to make the most out of Atlantis, you know?

“Coming from nothing motivates me.”

No exit point

The 60% who do not find a job or further learning opportuning can continue receiving mentorship for as long as they need it. “There is no exit point,” said Prof Graham.

It remains to be seen whether the 40% who took up opportunities will complete them. However, they, too, can return for more mentorship. “We find that even those have taken up an opportunity still need to come back to the coaches and continue to grow in their employment journeys and plan their next steps.”

The researchers have been considering how best to make this programme widely available. The Departments of Employment and Labour, and Education, have shown interest in adopting it. South Africa has large numbers of unemployed social-service para-professionals, such as auxiliary social workers and community development workers, who could provide the mentorship, Prof Graham said.

Nolwazi, mentioned above, gained an internship with a catering company. “Now I have the tools to face my challenges. I feel like I’ve got this!” she said. “I have a net that catches me when I fall. My journey continues but I’m no longer alone.”

“There is so much power in someone showing an interest in young people,” concluded Prof Graham.

Source: Dolphin Bay

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