Following up from our academic excellence programme under Inspire School Support, the foundation setup the mentorship programme to retain exceptional learners that we have identified over the years. The programme aims to link young professionals with university students, and university students with high school learners. Mentees are adopted from as early as Grade 7 and also Grade 10. The first class of mentees that were identified in 2011 have progressed to top universities in South Africa with guidance and assistance from the foundation mentors.

Focus areas

Following up from our academic excellence programme under Inspire School Support, the foundation setup the mentorship programme to retain exceptional learners that we have identified over the years. The programme aims to link young professionals with university students, and university students with high school learners. Mentees are adopted from as early as Grade 7 and also Grade 10. The first class of mentees that were identified in 2011 have progressed to top universities in South Africa with guidance and assistance from the foundation mentors

A learner's journey

The first time I heard about the foundation was in 2011 during our school’s prize giving (Bisho High School – Eastern Cape). Unathi September introduced me to the mentorship programme because he saw potential in me. I have always wanted to pursue a career in Medicine, so going into my matric year in 2012, I had already decided what I was going to apply for.

Through the mentorship programme, I was introduced to Dr. Vuyisa Mdingi, who had studied Medicine at UCT. After meeting Dr. Mdingi in person during my matric year, I was really inspired and determined to pursue a career in Medicine.

Being so sure of myself, I applied to only two universities, UCT and Wits. Unfortunately both universities did not of-fer me a place to study in 2013. I was encouraged to apply for a Health Sciences bursary from the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Unfortunately I did not get any response from the department. I was so disappointed and as a result I decided that I would take a gap year, something I had never considered.

At the end of the 2012, my matric results came out and I had passed with good grades, but even though I had good results, I didn’t get any offers to study at a university. Between January and February 2013, the foundation assisted me in looking for a place to study and eventually I got an offer to study BSc in Microbiology. Initially I didn’t want to take the offer due to various factors such as finances and my determination to study Medicine. After some convincing from the mentors, I eventually accepted the offer. The foundation assisted me in looking for accommodation and settling at university.

I am glad I took all the advice because the Eastern Cape Health Department responded late March. I received a full bursary, covering all my study expenses. I am now registered for a BSc Microbiology. I believe that I have a better chance of getting into Medicine next year than I would have had, had I taken a gap year.