“To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.” – Winston Churchill
Here’s how to get in contact with us.
Tel: 0860 MENTEE (636833)
Email: mentors@forgood.co.za
Facebook: Heartlines Mentors forgood
Let’s talk values: Compassion
I am part of a group called Building Bridges. As part of our conversation the other day we spoke about the value of compassion. We were challenged to go out into our day-to-day lives and do “random acts of kindness”. Initially you think how can I show a random act of kindness, well reality is it wont be random if you plan it. The random part of this act comes when you see a need and respond to that need. Do something that you would not normally do.
Almost like that old movie we watched “Pay It Forward” where the class got an assignments to come up with an assignment that will change the world… think about it “an act that can change the world”… what are your thoughts?
Lets talk about this value…
This resource book will guide you through three sections:
1. So you want to be a mentor… activities that will allow you to reflect on why you want to mentor a young person, what you have to share with them and what you need to be aware of if you are to be a mentor.
2. Skills for mentoring: This section outlines many of the skills that a mentor need.
3. Understanding young people: Information on how young people grow and develop.
The manual also comes with a DVD.
The processes of accessing the resource are as follows (to register as a mentor & receive our free book & DVD):
1. Website www.forgood.co.za (click on register)
2. SMS good to 32197 (sms cost R1) and…
3. For bulk registrations (i.e. For 5 or more) downloadable paper based application
You will need to take note of the following:
• We are promoting same gendered mentoring relationships.
(Men mentoring boys, women mentoring girls.)
• You will need to give us the name and contact details of the young person you wish to mentor
• If that young person is under 18, you’ll need to give us the name and contact details of their parent/caregiver.
For more info please contact us.
Why Mentor: “Research shows that good influence gives you resilience”
Research around child development suggests that if certain things are present in a person’s life as they grow up, they can be protected from the negative influences of the environment that they grow up in. If these things are missing then young people are at greater risk. If these things are present, young people can grow up strong in spite of adversity. Psychologists call this ability to overcome adversity “resilience”.
(From the Mentorship Manual)
I think the above statement gives good reason to the question
“Why mentor?”
I want to open this one up for discussion: How do you feel about becoming a mentor, does it scare you… or is the thought of mentoring someone not daunting?
Welcome to the Mentors forgood blog; a place for Heartlines Mentors and Mentees to hang out, blog about their experiences, and give advice to other mentors and mentees out there. Our aim is to support mentorship on a national scale.
And what is mentorship you ask? In its purest form, mentorship is about somebody with some life experience walking alongside someone with less experience. A mentor is there to provide a listening ear, guidance on life’s toughest questions, and should be able to broaden the young person’s experiences. They are a friend who leads by example.
Traditionally on this continent mentorship happened naturally, as communities took responsibility for their own young people and made sure they knew what they needed to know to contribute meaningfully to their family and community. If you stepped out of line, there would be a long queue of people eagerly waiting to call you (or shaya you!) back to order.
Fast forward to 2009. Things have changed. The lingering effects of apartheid on our souls and psyches, rural to urban migration, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the breakdown of the family, and a general loss of positive values in our society mean that most South African young people don’t have huge networks of loving and supportive adults intent on their success.
As someone who cares about the future of this country, I think it’s our responsibility to stand in that gap. We don’t become a mentor because some organisation trains us and makes us one. We become a mentor because a young person looks up to us. They see something in our lives that they connect with. We become a mentor by intentionally spending time with a young person…by showing an interest in their schoolwork, their hobbies, their friends. We are a mentor if a young person feels safe around us, important, loved.
To get a free Heartlines Mentorship Starterpack consisting of a Guide and DVD, go to www.forgood.co.za and click on “mentoring”. Otherwise, sms the word Good to 32197. SMS costs R1. For South African residents only.
