St George’s Home’s youths get their own mentors
The programme will see the youth at the centre being mentored by professionals from various industries
ST George’s Home learners got a chance to sit down with some mentors and discuss their dreams and aspirations on Saturday.
The programme, which is the initiative of chief operating officer at the Department of Trade and Industry, Dr Anneline Chetty, will see the youth at the centre being mentored by professionals from various industries.
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Chetty took on the responsibility because she wanted to invest in the lives of the youth.
“I believe that that the economic emancipation of these young children will help them become well-functioning, fully fledged members of society. To this end I will be introducing a training and mentorship programme that will reignite an unwavering passion in the lives of young children to resuscitate a belief in themselves in creating a future based on their aspirations,” she explains.
Chetty has partnered with both public and private sector institutions who will be assisting in the programme in various forms.
One of the institutions involved is The John Maxwell Leadership Centre through the executive director, Charlene Ellapen, who will be hosting a programme called YouthMax.
“YouthMAX Plus is an exciting new youth leadership programme for the John Maxwell Team, featuring John Maxwell Team YouthMAX Plus ambassador, Nick Vujicic. YouthMAX Plus inspires and equips young people to value themselves and others, by developing and maintaining a positive self-image, showing compassion to others, persevering in the midst of adversity and creating a daily routine of successful attitudes and behaviour.”
Through engaging and interactive sessions facilitated by a Certified John Maxwell Team Member, the youth of various ages will learn how self-leadership allows them to be a positive influence with their family, teachers and peers.
In addition to the above Chetty has identified mentors from the executive team of the Department of Trade and Industry as well as from the private sector, including companies and organisations such as Sustainability Truthing, Nedbank, Liberty, SAB-INBEV and Avis, Vodacom, Shoprite, Santam and Ericsson, who will be partnering through mentorship and coaching.
Each young person in the home will be partnered with a designated executive who will assist him/her in various aspects of his/her life. Most importantly, the assigned mentor would be providing assistance with respect to securing economic opportunities either through a formal employment opportunity or help them to start their own businesses.
Chetty will also assist in securing them opportunities in, for example, L’Oreal’s empowerment programme or an apprenticeship in 27 Red Stageline, where each young person will be paired with a relevant industry partner based on their individual aspirations.
In addition to the above, the St Georges residential facility is in desperate need of other resources such as groceries, clothing, toiletries and physical renovations to the home.
“In light thereof, we are appealing to the community to get involved and make a contribution towards improving the facility. Let us walk in the shoes of others, which will help expand our empathy by seeing the world through the eyes of others.”
For more information, contact the home on 011 616 4015 or visit www.coach.org.za.
