Women and Men on the Move: Mentors share their strengths with at-risk teens

“The Women and Men on the Move programme has given me leadership skills and has helped me to be more confident.

I lost both my parents when I was young, and had a pretty rough upbringing, so it has really made me strong. I can help my mentee with her difficulties, because I understand where she’s coming from because I’ve been there.
The advice I give my mentee and other young people is that they should stand for what they believe in, and if they have a dream they should protect it and work hard towards it.”

Nancy Mandiba, 22 is a second year student at CIDA pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration. After graduation, she hopes to become a financial manager or investment banker.

“In Soweto, my community, the rate of HIV is quite high – a lot of people are dying. They’re scared to talk about the disease, even though they know that it’s affecting us. I feel that we young people could change that, but many are turning a blind eye and doing things they shouldn’t be doing. I feel really scared that it could just wipe out a whole generation of the youth.

I feel pressured into staying focused, staying away from sex and alcohol. I have to focus on one thing only–to run after my dream and that’s it.

I learn a lot from Nancy. She’s a focused person, who knows what she wants and is going after it. She’s determined to get the life that she wants for herself. When I ask her to help me with something, and she’s always there.

I see quite a lot of kids in my community who are stuck in one place. They’re not going forward in life. I want to change that. I want to be someone. I want to be known as a great scientist one day.”

Karabo Twala, 15, is a grade 10 student who hopes to one day attend university and to pursue a career in science.