Sizanani mentors

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Sizanani mentors

We are professionals who mentor Gr 9 to 12 learners from Alexandra township high schools (Johannesbu In 2015, 90 mentors have assisted 123 learners.

The mentorship programme was started by Linda Giuricich, the director of Community Affairs at St Mary’s and Laurence Leblanc, the manager of the international division of RATP, a French company operating the Gautrain in 2007. South African and foreign professionals have mentored learners from Alexandra, Johannesburg who attend Saturday classes at St Mary’s School in Waverley. The programme caters

for 300 Grade 10, Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners. The learners are selected from the five high schools in Alexandra. The learners on the programme are also exposed to career information and lifeskills sessions. The Grade 12 are helped to apply at university and get bursaries. Funding is also secured to assist top achieving learners with bursaries. In 2015, funding received from the governement from Wallonia Brussels (French speaking Belgium), the RATP Foudation, Bombela, the SA subsidiary of the Belgium company Zetes and private sponsors have allowed us to give full bursaries or partial funding to 20 students at the University of Johannesburg, Wits and TUT.

16/06/2026

Why do we do what we do?

Because talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

Because every young person deserves someone who believes in them.

Because mentorship can change the course of a life.

For nearly two decades, Sizanani has stood beside young people as they navigate school, university, careers and life. We are proud of every learner, student, graduate, mentor and supporter who has been part of this journey.

This Youth Day, we celebrate not only the young people of today, but the leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers they are becoming.

Happy Youth Day to all our learners and alumni. Your future is bright, and we are honoured to be part of your journey. 💜🧡

10/06/2026

Money Matters: Building a Healthier Relationship with Money 💰

On 14 March, our alumni students and graduates had the opportunity to participate in an engaging and interactive financial literacy workshop at St Mary's School, Waverley facilitated by the energetic and inspiring Tshepo Kgapane from Blackbullion!

Through fun icebreakers and thought-provoking discussions, participants explored topics such as money personalities, saving, spending, and investing. The session encouraged young adults to reflect on their financial habits and develop a healthier relationship with money.

As Blackbullion puts it:

"Whether you're a budgeting pro, living payday to payday, or somewhere in between, this session is designed to help you build a healthier relationship with your money."

The workshop was met with enthusiastic feedback from attendees.

💬 "Blackbullion was the best financial event that I've attended. I think it's an eye-opener about having a good relationship with money," said Mbali Msimango.

A sincere thank you to Amukelani Maluleke, Paymentology, and WaFunda for connecting us with this incredible opportunity and for continuously investing in the growth and success of Sizanani youth.

21/05/2026

Four alumni from Sizanani have started a 6-week Internship in IT Asset Disposal [ITAD] - refurbishing used computers offered by hashtag
hashtag at their Johannesburg office. This organisation (https://lnkd.in/d95jnQyR) has provided 1,6 millions computers to needy communities since 2003. Among the new beneficiaries, Sizanani, which just bought 3 laptops for students. The new partnership offers opportunities to school leavers from Alexandra Township, in Gauteng while providing much needed computers to students.

19/05/2026

“I would like to thank Sizanani for the incredible support and guidance throughout the unemployment graduates programme. The CV writing, mock interviews, and overall preparation truly helped build my confidence and equipped me with valuable skills that I lacked and needed for the job market” says Faith Mabunda (picture), a marketing graduate who has just been hired as event coordinator intern at the French South African chamber of commerce.
She was part of the 4th mock interviews session organized by the Chamber, on May 12th. Job seekers from Alexandra townships, had an opportunity to be interviewed by HRs from Bombela operating company (BOC), Limagrain, Olea and recruitment agencies (Thabethe Cids, Step Ahead Staffing). This session was part of the “Alexandra Graduates employability program” (AGEP), started in October 2024 by Sizanani, with the financial support of the Foundation of the Group RATP (BOC shareholder). In total, 81 graduates have been trained and 64 completed the training. Already two third of them found a qualified job (31), an“ in service training” (8) or a learnership (4). “Thank you for investing in young graduates like me, says Faith, and creating opportunities that make a real difference in our lives”.

03/05/2026

On Saturday, 25 April, we welcomed 13 Grade 7–11 learners from Bemssel College to an Emotional Support Session (ESS) held at the Afrika Tikkun Foundation Centre (Alexandra) — as part of our 2026 Expansion Plan! 😁

The session was coordinated by Sizanani Director, Kimberly Mkhushulwa, and facilitated by Visual Artist & Entrepreneur, Mwanawasa Mawelela.

Through creative expression, learners used colours & symbols to explore:
🎨 Personal Timelines (Where they come from, where they are, and their dreams for the future)
🪞 “Looking in the mirror” — reflecting on self-perception
🧑🏽‍🎨 Self-portraits to build confidence and self-belief

There were no right or wrong answers — just honest expression.

One Grade 11 learner, Ishmael Massie, shared:
"Using colour made it easier for me to express myself..."

Another learner, Mellicia Moyo, reflected:
"I learned that holding onto something won't change the situation, but if you let go and tell someone, there will be a change and you can get advice..."

A heartfelt thank you to Annie Blecher (through our connection with the Maharishi Invincibility Institute) for connecting us with the wonderful Principal, Silibaziso Sibanda, who believed in our vision and opened the door for us to support these learners.

This is what safe spaces look like. This is what healing looks like. 🌱

29/04/2026

On Saturday, 25 April, 20 of our Grade 10–12 learners had the wonderful opportunity to attend an Open Day at the Johannesburg Culinary & Pastry School.

The learners thoroughly enjoyed the experience, engaging in hands-on activities such as decorating muffins, learning how to make coffee from bean to cup, and creating mocktails. Beyond the fun, the visit sparked curiosity and confidence about future possibilities.

One learner shared:
“Yesterday was an amazing adventure… we learnt how to be independent at a young age.” – Jabulile Phakathi (Gr 11)

Another reflected:
“It was nice because now we know the difference between medium rare and well done… I can say I had fun.” – Botshelo Molefe (Gr 11)

We extend our sincere thanks to the Johannesburg Culinary & Pastry School for inviting and hosting our learners, and for opening their eyes to the exciting opportunities within the culinary and pastry industry.

24/04/2026

OUR FIRST CAREER FAIR 🎉✨

We are so excited to share that on 11 April 2026, the Sizanani Mentorship Programme hosted its very first Career and it was nothing short of amazing! 💫

From exploring careers in IT, Engineering, Finance, and Management to connecting with inspiring professionals, our learners showed up curious, engaged, and ready to grow. The energy, the conversations, and the inspiration in the room were truly powerful! 🔥

A special thank you to Mbombela , Our Mentor, Alumni and .dryl for joining us and contributing to such a meaningful and impactful day. Your presence truly made a difference. 🙌

This was more than just an event, it was the start of something meaningful for the future of our youth. 🚀 We are so proud of this milestone and grateful to everyone who made it possible.

✨ First Career Fair ✔️
✨ Many more to come!

MakingADifference

22/04/2026

On 18 April, we hosted a Mentor Training & Induction session at St Mary's School, Waverley!

We were excited to welcome 3 new mentors and 2 experienced alumni mentors who have taken on new mentees. The session included mentorship training, followed by a networking opportunity where mentors and mentees began building meaningful relationships.

We are incredibly grateful to all the mentors who attended, and to our dedicated alumni volunteers who continue to support and strengthen the programme.

We are currently looking for more mentors to join our community! If you are passionate about supporting and guiding young people, we would love to hear from you.

📅 Our next Mentor Induction will take place on 16 May — more details will be shared soon.

09/04/2026

GomTown! in the making🎭

On Saturday, 4 April, our future superstars gathered at Afrika Tikkun Foundation (Alexandra) for an inspiring Talent Show rehearsal.

The session started with fun vocal and physical warm-ups, followed by learners bravely sharing their prepared pieces — from dance and song to powerful poetry. We then began the exciting process of creating our original play, “GomTown!”, inspired by the South African classic "Sophiatown".

Guided by our Sizanani Director Kim and our incredible volunteer alumni coaches, learners are now bringing their own Alexandra stories to life.

This year marks our 10th Annual Talent Show, and we are so excited to watch this production grow into something truly special!

A big thank you to Afrika Tikkun Alexandra for generously providing us with the space 🙏🏽

24/03/2026

💭 Think back to your high school years...

Was there someone who guided you, encouraged you, or helped you see your potential?

Today, you have the opportunity to be that person for someone else.

The Sizanani Mentorship Programme is inviting professionals to support high school learners from Alexandra township through mentorship, guidance, and exposure to future opportunities. We will be hosting our next Mentor Induction (where you will learn more about mentorship & our programme):

- 📅 18 April | 12:30 PM
- 📍St Mary’s (Waverley)

If you’re unable to commit to mentoring, there are several other meaningful ways to get involved:
• Serving as a guest speaker (career guidance, mental health, personal development)
• Hosting company visits for small groups of learners
• Sharing professional insights and skills
• Supporting through donations (laptops, school essentials, financial contributions)

One mentor can change a life — and it could be you!

If you are interested in contributing, please feel free to get in touch (details on the flyer).

Address

Johannesburg
2090

Telephone

+27837507735

Website

http://www.sizanani.org.za/

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