Be a Part of South Africa’s First Long Distance Cross-Cultural Mentorship Platform

South Africans abroad often ask how they can contribute to nation-building, and to improve the education system back in South Africa. Here’s how…

The Global Diaspora Mentorship Movement, spearheaded by national NPC Khulisa Social Solutions in SA, will be launched in the UK, between the 13-23 June 2016, a series of events to promote the involvement of South African diaspora making a meaningful contribution through cross-cultural long-distance mentoring, to the building of human capital and the quality of education amongst suitably identified mentees from vulnerable groups throughout South Africa.

Khulisa SA’s in-house mentoring unit, powered by a cutting-edge knowledge management system caters for online mentoring applications, eLearning on a blended mentor and mentee programme, matching process, monitoring and evaluation systems and access various mentor mentor platforms.

Beneficiary groups are identified largely through Khulisa’s partner NGOs and may range from abandoned and abused women/children, school-going students between 14 and 18, victims of rape, leaders of child-headed households, those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS (including service providers), parents, orphans, vulnerable girls, emerging NPOs and SMMEs, university students, job seekers and first time employees.

For just up to two hours per month, mentors can contribute towards nation building back home…

“For just up to two hours per month mentors engage with their mentee through a variety of different communications, e.g. letter writing / emailing, Whatsapp and Skype”, says Lesley Ann van Selm Managing Director of Khulisa SA.

“South Africans living abroad often ask how they can contribute towards nation building in their homeland and in particular to improve the educational system.

“The diaspora movement – based on international research on distance mentoring – demonstrates unquestionably the contribution that mentoring makes to the quality of education and training through a two-way exchange between South Africans living abroad and those studying at home.”

David Patient, who has over 30 years of experience in mentorship, says: “No matter where in the world you live, SA will always be home, so through this movement we are hoping for knowledge and experiences to be shared through diaspora becoming part of the solution.”

David Patient – who is one of the world’s longest medically documented HIV/AIDS survivors, activist, advocate, author and social engineer – has partnered with Khulisa through his organisation Leadership & Training Resource Centre to provide expert services to assist mentors in tackling challenging situations.

He will be hosting a number of forums for multiple audiences in order to address concerns and provide knowledge crucial to effective mentorship.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the mentorship movement, please forward an email to vivian@khulisa.org.za.

Alternatively if you have a group of 15 or more friends who may be interested in forming a mentor chapter and would like to have a presentation conducted at a venue of your choice, in central London, please let us know and we will revert accordingly.