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).