Sizanani mentors

3 New Mentors. 4 New Mentorships. One Step Closer to 100! 💜🧡💚

This past Saturday, we were delighted to welcome 3 new volunteer mentors to the Sizanani family!

Because of their willingness to give back to the youth, 4 of our Grade 10 & 11 learners have now been matched with a mentor — with one of our new mentors generously taking on two mentees.

To our new mentors: thank you for choosing to invest your time, encouragement and life experience in the next generation. Your dedication reminds our learners that they do not have to walk their journey alone.

At Sizanani, mentorship is not about financial support. It is about showing up, listening, guiding, motivating and helping a young person believe in their future.

📊 We are currently sitting on 85 mentors for our Grade 10–12 mentees, and our goal is to reach at least 100 mentors before our last 2026 induction.

📅 Our final mentor induction for 2026 takes place on Saturday, 5 September 2026 at 12H00.

The One More Mentor Challenge: One referral. One mentor. One more young person with someone in their corner.

If you have ever considered mentoring (or know someone who would make a wonderful mentor) we would love to hear from you.

🙏 A like, comment and repost can help this opportunity reach someone who may become a life-changing mentor for a young person.

On 16 July, 15 of our top learners had the opportunity to visit Absa Corporate and Investment Banking for an immersive experience with the Risk Department.

The day began with a welcome and registration, after which learners were paired with Absa employees for a job-shadowing experience across various business areas. This gave them a rare chance to observe professionals at work, ask questions, and gain firsthand insight into the different roles involved in the risk cycle.

The learners then shared lunch together before attending an inspiring presentation by graduates from the Absa Risk Graduate Programme, who spoke about their career journeys and the opportunities available within the field.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chad Julius, Change Manager, for helping us organise this valuable visit, to the entire Risk team for generously sharing their knowledge and time, and to Solomon Sikhosana, Chief Risk Officer and Sizanani alumni mentor, for taking time out of his busy schedule to engage with our learners.

One of our Grade 12 learners, Oamogetswe Matlala, reflected:

“Going to Absa was a learning curve because it taught me more about the career I want to venture into… I also learnt that there is coding in risk, which was something I did not think was there.”

Experiences like these help young people connect classroom learning with real careers and broaden their understanding of the many paths available to them.

Thank you, Absa, for investing in the future of our learners! Absa South Africa

🎭 An inspiring afternoon at Joburg Theatre!

A heartfelt thank you to Space.Com at Joburg Theatre for generously sponsoring complimentary tickets for our talent show learners, volunteer alumni coaches, members of the Sizanani team and mentors to attend Taxi Wars.

The production was an incredible blend of drama, dance, music and storytelling, offering an honest and thought-provoking look into the realities of South Africa's taxi industry. Through compelling performances, the audience experienced not only the violence often associated with the industry, but also its impact on families and individuals who find themselves with few economic alternatives.

The experience left a lasting impression on our learners.

Amkele Ndongeni (gr 8) reflected:

“I really enjoyed the show because I learnt some things about acting, and the absolutely nice part is when MaMthembu was singing. Her voice was absolutely fantastic! Special message for the actors: keep it up and I like your energy. I felt like joining you because it was interesting.” - Amkele Ndongeni gr 8

Alumni coach, Jose Bila, also said:

"The actors connected with the audience... Such an outstanding performance and a constant reminder that theatre is the core of what art needs."

As a programme that encourages creativity and self-expression, exposing our learners to professional theatre is an invaluable part of their journey. Seeing the passion, discipline and storytelling on stage inspired many of our young performers—especially after recently taking part in our own production, GomTown!.

Thank you once again to Space.Com and Joburg Theatre for making this memorable experience possible.

🧬 A day our Grade 11 learners will never forget!

Learning goes beyond the classroom, and our recent visit to the University of Pretoria proved just that.

Our Grade 11 learners had the opportunity to participate in exciting DNA extraction activities, tour research laboratories, and meet university students and researchers who shared their passion for science and their academic journeys.

The visit gave our learners valuable insight into the many opportunities available in STEM and inspired them to dream even bigger about their futures.

💬 Learner Reflection

"The DNA activities and laboratory experience made science come alive for me. Meeting the students and researchers inspired me to work harder and believe that a future in STEM is possible."

We are incredibly grateful to DIPLOMICS for connecting us, and to everyone who made this experience possible. Opportunities like these inspire curiosity, build confidence, and encourage our learners to see themselves as the scientists, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you for investing in the future of our young people! 🔬

🧬 A day our Grade 11 learners will never forget!

Learning goes beyond the classroom, and our recent visit to the University of Pretoria proved just that.
IGNITE DIPLOMICS ,University Of Pretoria

Our Grade 11 learners had the opportunity to participate in exciting DNA extraction activities, tour research laboratories, and meet university students and researchers who shared their passion for science and their academic journeys.

The visit gave our learners valuable insight into the many opportunities available in STEM and inspired them to dream even bigger about their futures.

💬 Learner Reflection

"The DNA activities and laboratory experience made science come alive for me. Meeting the students and researchers inspired me to work harder and believe that a future in STEM is possible."

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this experience possible. Opportunities like these inspire curiosity, build confidence, and encourage our learners to see themselves as the scientists, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you for investing in the future of our young people! 💙🔬

🧬🔬 A first for Sizanani! 🔬🧬

On July 2nd, 23 of our Grade 9 learners had the incredible opportunity to visit the University of Pretoria as part of the DIPLOMICS Ignite Learners Initiative—our very first collaboration together!

The day gave our learners a real glimpse into the exciting world of scientific research. They learned from postgraduate students studying fields such as microbiology, genetics, genetic engineering and virology, took part in a hands-on DNA extraction experiment, and explored world-class laboratory facilities.

"It was my first time seeing real biochemistry, genetics and microbiology labs at UP, and meeting actual researchers made STEM feel a lot more real and possible for me... I'm leaving way more curious about microbiology than I came in.", said Andziso Mashele, Grade 9.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr Mhlekazi Molatoli from DIPLOMICS for thinking of Sizanani learners and including us in this wonderful initiative. Thank you to PhD student Chanel Thomas for helping coordinate the visits, and to Dr Markus Wilken for your kindness and warm welcome.

A grade 9 learner's parent also beautifully summed up the impact of the day:
"We appreciate the wonderful work you do and the exposure given to our young ones."

We will post about Day 2 with our Grade 11 learners soon!

Last week Saturday, we were delighted to welcome 4 INCREDIBLE NEW MENTORS to the Sizanani family! 🤩

A warm welcome to:
💚Judith Njuguna – Legal Professional & St Mary's parent
🧡 Xabiso Vili – Poet & Author
💜 Lesedi Sekele – Digital Marketer
💙 Lorraine Lamola – Third-year Law student at UNISA

Because of their willingness to give their time, encouragement and guidance, 5 of our learners from Alexandra have now been matched with a mentor—someone who will walk alongside them as they navigate high school, prepare for life after matric and work towards their dreams.

At Sizanani, mentorship isn't about financial support. It's about showing up, listening, encouraging and reminding a young person that they don't have to face life's challenges alone.

We're so grateful to Judith, Xabiso, Lesedi and Lorraine for choosing to make a difference. Welcome to the Sizanani family! 💚🧡💜

We're still looking for a few more volunteer mentors before our final two inductions of the year on 1 August and 5 September.

If you've ever considered mentoring—or know someone who would make a wonderful mentor—we'd love to hear from you.

📩 Connect with us to find out more.

On Youth Day (16 June), 20 Sizanani learners and 3 alumni had the incredible opportunity to attend the Advocates for Transformation Human Rights Committee's Legal Education Workshop at Thulamela Chambers in Sandton.

Throughout the afternoon, learners explored their constitutional rights, gained insight into the legal profession, learned about different career pathways into law, and heard from legal professionals—including a special address by Acting Justice Tembeka Ngcukaitobi of the Constitutional Court. The interactive discussions and Q&A session encouraged learners to ask questions, think critically, and imagine themselves pursuing careers in the legal field.

A heartfelt thank you to Sinako Lindazwe for coordinating this meaningful opportunity, and to the entire Advocates for Transformation Human Rights Committee for generously sharing your knowledge and inspiring the next generation of legal professionals. We are also grateful to Sibongile Mathe, Ipfi Rakhadani, JP Snijders, Karabo van Heerden, Thabiso Panda, Sizanani alumni mentor Didi Goosen, MC Lerato Nkadimeng, Acting Justice Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, and everyone who contributed to such an engaging and impactful programme.

💬 One of our Grade 12 learners, Unam Mqeke, shared:

"Today was a really good experience. I finally understand the difference between advocates and lawyers, and I feel much more informed about my rights. I was especially inspired by one of the young advocates who reminded us that our background doesn't determine our future. I left feeling hopeful, empowered, and excited to explore a career in law. Thank you to AFT and Sizanani for this opportunity."

Experiences like these remind our learners that their dreams are possible, and that the future of justice is bright. ⚖️

🎭 GomTown! – Celebrating 10 Years of Talent, Creativity and Community 🎭

What a truly memorable day!

Our 10th Annual Talent Show brought months of hard work, creativity and collaboration to life through GomTown!—an original production inspired by Sophiatown, showcasing the voices, experiences and dreams of young people from Alexandra.

This production was much more than a performance. It was the result of weeks of rehearsals, teamwork and creative exploration, where learners worked alongside our dedicated volunteer alumni coaches to write, perform and tell stories that reflected their own lives and communities.

A sincere thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special:

💙 Our learners, whose dedication, individuality and incredible talent shone on stage.
💙 Our volunteer alumni coaches, who patiently mentored and encouraged our performers throughout the process.
💙 Our parents and guardians for supporting their children's participation.
💙 Our amazing mentors who came to show their support.
💙 Our valued guests - Lopang Rapodile from Kasada Capital Management, Solomon Sikhosana from Absa Corporate and Investment Bank, and Tshegofatso Manaka from Paymentology for celebrating this milestone with us.
💙 Chipkins Puratos for generously sponsoring delicious cakes and delicacies enjoyed by our performers and guests.
💙 Our Director, Kimberly, for coordinating this year's production and leading the creative process.

The audience also enjoyed surprise performances by talented alumni Tania Ngindani, Shelton Mpala and Omolemo Mokwana, along with a lively hip-hop performance by Kimberly herself!

Although these photos capture many wonderful moments, there's still more to come! We'll soon be sharing highlights featuring our guests, alumni performances and additional memories from the day.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 10th Annual Talent Show such a meaningful celebration of youth, creativity and mentorship. ❤️