Nelson Mandela and his mentor...
The value of mentorship
On May the 5th 2003 Water Sisulu died, leaving behind a grieving nation and a heartbroken Nelson Mandela. Sisulu was Mandela's earliest political mentor and his closest confidant, and after 62 years of friendship the two were separated.
Mandela first met with Sisulu in 1941, after being referred to his house in Soweto by mutual friends, who saw what the older Sisulu could offer a hungry and ambitious Mandela. Sisulu later said that the moment he looked upon the young man, he decided Mandela was the answer to his prayers.
"I had no hesitation, the moment I met him, that this is the man I need," Sisulu said in an interview shortly after the 1994 elections.
"Needed for what?"
"For leading the African people."
Sisulu constantly guided the younger Mandela with his quiet diplomacy and endless empathy. Mandela, by his own admissions, rarely acted without consulting Sisulu.
As Mandela's mentor, Sisulu demonstrated to the young firebrand leader the importance of having a political movement that held at its core a vision of a better life for every South African, no matter creed or colour. In his eulogy at Sisulu's funeral, Mandela reminded the nation what the legacy of such a hero leaves us:
"Their going must leave emptiness with those of us who stay behind... They fought a noble battle and lived their lives in pursuit of a better life for all who follow."
In South Africa we have massive gaps within our society. These gaps take the forms of wealth, education, skills... the list goes on. And as participating members of our society, we feel these gaps most acutely; we notice the way they impact on our country, on our province, on our cities, on our communities, on our neighbours, on our families, on ourselves. Yet it is safe to say that those who are most affected by these gaps are our youth, raised in hope and living in inequality.
The value of mentorship
'Mentorship' is an umbrella phrase, and it encompasses a wide variety of associations, but on an essential level it is a developmental relationship in which a more experienced person helps a less experienced person. Whether formal or informal, whether structured or organic, whether career, life or skills-focussed, there is much any adult can teach a youth.
"Mentorship is vital for building a nation, and we need to focus on the youth to change South Africa. Empower the hearts, empower the heads, for good," says Buhle Dlamini, the founder and managing member of Young & Able Youth Advisory Services.
According to Dlamini, the youth of South Africa are growing up without helpful adult role models, with abuse, dysfunctional families and crime all playing a destructive role in their lives. "Our research shows that young people who have been mentored, who had someone who cared about their development, have all turned out better for it."
In 1991 K. Pittman and W. E. Fleming, wrote the following in their book A New Vision, a thesis on youth development: "For years, we have assumed that positive youth development occurs naturally in the absence of youth problems... Problem-free does not mean fully prepared. There must be an equal commitment to helping young people understand life's challenges and responsibilities and to developing the necessary skills to succeed as adults."
A young person's environment is altered profoundly by the presence or absence of many influences, from family, to community and educational and employment opportunities.
When one considers the possibilities around mentoring, it quickly becomes apparent that this practice is a counter, at a grass-roots level, to one of South Africa's biggest problems: the lack of opportunity. And opportunity is what a mentor can offer. By providing any number of invaluable services, one person can empower, motivate, inspire and ultimately broaden the perceptual horizons of a young mind.
Dlamini argues that one of the biggest obstacles to people becoming mentors is a feeling that they have nothing to offer. However this is not the case. "A successful mentor is a person who can speak from experience," he says. "We all have experience; we therefore all have the capacity to mentor those with little or no experience."
Experience counts for a lot in this world, and this luxury is often bestowed through community, schools and families. But without these institutions one can appreciate the deficit that faces so many young people.
Sisulu offered guidance to a young Mandela, helping to shape the man who would bring South Africa into a new era of democracy. This shepherding and its effects may not be measurable, but Mandela himself has always credited his relationship with Sisulu as being a formative part of his growth as a leader. Mentoring is never about knowing where your mentee will end up; it's about caring for the path that a young person needs to walk in order to reach their full potential, it's a helping hand offered from one generation to the next.
By Matthew Choate
On May the 5th 2003 Water Sisulu died, leaving behind a grieving nation and a heartbroken Nelson Mandela. Sisulu was Mandela's earliest political mentor and his closest confidant, and after 62 years of friendship the two were separated.
Mandela first met with Sisulu in 1941, after being referred to his house in Soweto by mutual friends, who saw what the older Sisulu could offer a hungry and ambitious Mandela. Sisulu later said that the moment he looked upon the young man, he decided Mandela was the answer to his prayers.
"I had no hesitation, the moment I met him, that this is the man I need," Sisulu said in an interview shortly after the 1994 elections.
"Needed for what?"
"For leading the African people."
Sisulu constantly guided the younger Mandela with his quiet diplomacy and endless empathy. Mandela, by his own admissions, rarely acted without consulting Sisulu.
As Mandela's mentor, Sisulu demonstrated to the young firebrand leader the importance of having a political movement that held at its core a vision of a better life for every South African, no matter creed or colour. In his eulogy at Sisulu's funeral, Mandela reminded the nation what the legacy of such a hero leaves us:
"Their going must leave emptiness with those of us who stay behind... They fought a noble battle and lived their lives in pursuit of a better life for all who follow."
In South Africa we have massive gaps within our society. These gaps take the forms of wealth, education, skills... the list goes on. And as participating members of our society, we feel these gaps most acutely; we notice the way they impact on our country, on our province, on our cities, on our communities, on our neighbours, on our families, on ourselves. Yet it is safe to say that those who are most affected by these gaps are our youth, raised in hope and living in inequality.
The value of mentorship
'Mentorship' is an umbrella phrase, and it encompasses a wide variety of associations, but on an essential level it is a developmental relationship in which a more experienced person helps a less experienced person. Whether formal or informal, whether structured or organic, whether career, life or skills-focussed, there is much any adult can teach a youth.
"Mentorship is vital for building a nation, and we need to focus on the youth to change South Africa. Empower the hearts, empower the heads, for good," says Buhle Dlamini, the founder and managing member of Young & Able Youth Advisory Services.
According to Dlamini, the youth of South Africa are growing up without helpful adult role models, with abuse, dysfunctional families and crime all playing a destructive role in their lives. "Our research shows that young people who have been mentored, who had someone who cared about their development, have all turned out better for it."
In 1991 K. Pittman and W. E. Fleming, wrote the following in their book A New Vision, a thesis on youth development: "For years, we have assumed that positive youth development occurs naturally in the absence of youth problems... Problem-free does not mean fully prepared. There must be an equal commitment to helping young people understand life's challenges and responsibilities and to developing the necessary skills to succeed as adults."
A young person's environment is altered profoundly by the presence or absence of many influences, from family, to community and educational and employment opportunities.
When one considers the possibilities around mentoring, it quickly becomes apparent that this practice is a counter, at a grass-roots level, to one of South Africa's biggest problems: the lack of opportunity. And opportunity is what a mentor can offer. By providing any number of invaluable services, one person can empower, motivate, inspire and ultimately broaden the perceptual horizons of a young mind.
Dlamini argues that one of the biggest obstacles to people becoming mentors is a feeling that they have nothing to offer. However this is not the case. "A successful mentor is a person who can speak from experience," he says. "We all have experience; we therefore all have the capacity to mentor those with little or no experience."
Experience counts for a lot in this world, and this luxury is often bestowed through community, schools and families. But without these institutions one can appreciate the deficit that faces so many young people.
Sisulu offered guidance to a young Mandela, helping to shape the man who would bring South Africa into a new era of democracy. This shepherding and its effects may not be measurable, but Mandela himself has always credited his relationship with Sisulu as being a formative part of his growth as a leader. Mentoring is never about knowing where your mentee will end up; it's about caring for the path that a young person needs to walk in order to reach their full potential, it's a helping hand offered from one generation to the next.
By Matthew Choate
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The mission of The Gathering is to build an Intergenerational, movement, rooted in history, cultures and non-violent direct action to heal communities, build collective strength and generate an environment of hope and opportunity.
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
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