The Sizanani Mentorship Programme (“Sizanani”) was launched in 2007 by Laurence Le Blanc from RATP international, the French company which operates the Gautrain. Since then, the programme has been helping high school learners from Alexandra township in Johannesburg to succeed in their studies and gain access to universities through the provision of mentors, career information and bursaries.
WHO ARE WE?
Sizanani works in collaboration with St. Mary’s School in Waverley (Johannesburg), which offers extra classes on Saturdays and holidays (Ikusasa Lethu project) to more than 200 Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners from Alexandra high schools. Most of the learners are girls. Out of 94 Grade 12s attending Ikusasa Lethu who passed their Matric in 2017, 55 enrolled at universities.
Mentors play a crucial role by providing mentees with career information, counselling and motivation. In addition, Sizanani hosts speakers to motivate the learners and provide them with career information. Companies and campus visits are also organised, as well as job shadowing and workshops. Sizanani helps Grade 12 learners to enrol at the University of Johannesburg and other tertiary institutions. Funding of university students has also been made available by our sponsors.
In 2018, 117 mentors have been assisting 142 learners. About half of the mentors are South Africans and the rest are primarily from France.
OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
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Since 2014, la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (Belgium) has been the main sponsor of Sizanani, also providing funding to more than 30 students.
The Fondation RATP (France) has been funding our students since 2013.
The Bombela Operating Company has awarded bursaries to Sizanani learners since 2015.
TESTIMONIES
"Watching these teenagers develop into adults and knowing that in a little way, I helped them on that journey is heartening." (Emiola Abass, mentor)
"We are like family. I have learnt a lot and experienced a lot. I’ve seen things that I have never seen before and she helped us to see other people and different cultures." (Siphokazi Dzova, mentee)
“My mentees are certainly my strongest bond to South Africa. This, for sure, has been a great lesson for me: understanding others' perspective and focusing on small but consistent changes instead of big, ideal dreams” (Fernanda Mendoza, mentor)
