Being part of the Nzalo Mentorship Programme has instilled confidence in 19-year-old Grace Mbebuwa, who aspires to be a prosecutor.
As part of the programme, Mbebuwa has been privileged to get advice from a State prosecutor, as she wants to pursue a career in law. “My mentor has been able to make me believe in myself. She has helped me to see that if I want to achieve anything in life, it has to start with me and I have to be willing to work hard to achieve my dreams,” Mbebuwa says.
Mbebuwa, who joined the programme in 2014, has shadowed her mentor and she speaks to her at least once a month about what is going on in her life. The Grade 12 learner has applied to study law at the University of the Witwatersrand
Nzalo Careers MD Sedzani Netshitenzhe says the programme was established to help mentor young people, who needed advice on their careers. The organisation conducts afterschool care programmes nationally. The programmes are aimed at facilitating career and leadership development, as well as hosting various educational career activities. Netshitenzhe says the programme has had a positive impact on its beneficiaries, as one young man, who grew up in a child-headed home, has been able to access opportunities because of the programme. “We have an initiative where we encourage young people to start their own businesses. [The young man’s] business was fixing computers for people in the township. That has helped to put food on his table. “Right now, he’s doing his first year in computer science. It’s because he was part of this programme that he was able to access opportunities,” Netshitenzhe says.
