ALUMNI GROUPS

SAYes provides post-programme support across all our programmes for mentees via youth-led alumni groups as well as ongoing access to Transition Specialist and Mentee Liaison support.

We also offer alumni access to various paid functions within SAYes, including ambassador and advisory roles. Our network of alumni in the UK and SA regularly hold online and in-person events, including inviting speakers from around the globe to engage on matters of interest and shared experience.

AMINA PULULU
SAYes AMBASSADOR, SOUTH AFRICA

SAYes in Parliament

Care leaver representatives from the SAYes alumni took part in the first ever closed sessions with children and young people in the South African Parliament in May 2021. Their submission was to amend the Children’s Act in favour of better support for care leavers.

The alumni’s proposed solution was clear – the Government should mandate and back formal one-to-one mentorship programmes that provide support and aid in transition to independence for young people in care, and they should further support the extension of these programmes to be available to young care leavers until age of 26.

The special significance of SAYes alumni being part of changing the broken system that inspired Michelle and Gillian to start SAYes in the first place can’t be overstated.

Walking Tour of London

We had an incredible time kicking off our SAYes Alumni Group in London over the weekend for a day full of laughter, connection, and community! We started with a beautiful brunch at St Paul’s (huge thanks for hosting us!) before setting out on a civic oriented historical walking tour of the city’s hidden Secret Gardens.

 It was a day of new memories, new friendships, and celebrating the power of mentorship that continues to grow beyond the programme. We have so much to share from the day, so check back throughout the week for more from our launch event.

Join the SAYes Mentee Alumni Group

This is a space for SAYes alumni to connect, share with and support one another:

A community of mentees from around the world.
Organising youth-led social change initiatives and campaigns (for example, the alumni made a submission for an amendment of the Children’s Act through the South African Parliament).
Encouraging and participating in community volunteerism.
Inputting on the design, delivery and evaluation of SAYes mentorship programmes.
Working with external organisations, professionals, and research teams sharing ideas, insights and personal experience.
Offering youth-led training (for example, alumni with SAYes ambassadors offer in-person workshops at Child and Youth Care Centres, interacting directly with children and young people and sharing their experiences of gaining independence).
Generating social media content to raise awareness about mentorship and its benefits.
Supporting SAYes ambassadors in recruiting new mentees and mentors.
Sharing job opportunities, providing peer-to-peer guidance, and motivating each other.
Gaining experience and skills for working with young people including pathways to paid SAYes Ambassador and Mentee Liaison roles.

The SAYes alumni Group is a youth-led initiative, led by a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson who are voted for by the alumni members and has a number of chapters in different parts of the world.

Making Connections Events

Working together, our SA and UK alumni groups host international online #MakingConnection events.

Join care-experienced people (CEP) and supporters from all over the world in a series of online networking events designed to bring good humans together. CEP from South Africa and UK are inviting CEP and supporters from everywhere on the planet to connect – because chance differences of background, geography or circumstances should not matter.

Making Connection with Brett Service

On April 1st, the SAYes alumni hosted care-experienced guest speaker Brett Service. Brett is the Chief of Staff to British Ambassador in Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative to the African Union and has worked in various positions in the UK to help shape constitutional policy.

SAYes Ambassadors

SAYes Ambassadors are alumni who work on a part-time basis for SAYes. Their main goal is to recruit, inspire and inform new prospective mentees, mentors and partners, while also supporting the delivery of current programming.

Ambassadors are engaged for specific programme remits. For example, our Cape Town care-experienced Ambassadors carry out workshops in Child and Youth Care Centres, sharing their journey through mentorship and how it impacted their lives. Ambassadors also share their experiences about what life is like beyond a residential care home. The aim is to prepare those young people who may soon be leaving the care system.

Our UK Ambassador teams are actively involved in recruiting mentees at various colleges and youth events throughout London. Ambassadors also inform programme design and engage with policy and research groups.

Ambassador positions are advertised through the SAYes Alumni groupsa