Can you imagine a world of people who know that they matter? Can you imagine how differently people would treat one another, be to them selves, and take care of our earth? Through our programmes, we are restoring the connections people have with themselves, their communities and the earth. We use the ancient tool of storytelling to mark the stages of life so that people can make conscious choices about how they want to be youth, adults and elders. Through stories, we are bringing people together from different classes and cultures to support one another in living their life visions.
In South Africa:
Mentorship Program - 24 months
The mentorship program’s goal is to facilitate a rite of passage process that empowers youth to become adults with balanced relationships with themselves, their community, and the earth. The program is supported by community partners, the mentors in training, and four partner networks of large and small organizations: Environment, Creativity, Reconciliation and Public Health.
The 20 youth (aged 18-25) are selected through a 2-part recruitment phase: a 3-day workshop followed by an application and interview process. During the program, there are bi-monthly half- day meetings, four five-day camps, 3 full-day dialogue sessions, and a 2-day entering process. Youth are drawn from different cultures, religions, sexual orientations, and classes through 6 community partner organizations.
The program has three phases: relationship to self, relationship to others and relationship to the environment. Participants have creative projects throughout the two years and each participant also plants and maintains a vegetable garden. Further, participants exit the program with relationships to mentors who will continue to support them in creating their life vision. The participants also become mentors to the new intake into the program and other youth in their community.
Mentor Training - 18 months
The goal of the mentor training is to equip community leaders (aged 25+) with the skills and personal development to mentor young adults. The training runs parallel to the mentorship program. After undergoing their own rite of passage, mentors are introduced to the youth and begin to support one individual. The program helps mentors realize how they best support people through reflection on their own lives and relationships. It provides them with the skills training and self-care strategies needed to be an effective mentor.
Mentor Network:
Our mentorship network is made up of people who sign up to become mentors and offer active support to youth. Most mentors come from our training program and from three-day workshops. We also draw our mentors from five partnership networks that we run. The networks include twenty leading organizations in the fields of health, creativity, reconciliation, community, and environment. Through these partnerships we are helping organisations learn how to exchange tools, skills and resources to create sustainable change.
Training & Workshop Services
The goal of the training and workshop services is to provide training for organizations, corporates, government and individuals in the use of life and archetypal storytelling.
We offer pre-designed, in house workshops in:
- Debriefing Strategies & Stress Management
- Communication & Team Building
- Leadership & Personal Development
We offer custom designed workshops in Network Training & Access; Mentorship; Media & Storytelling; Mediation & Reconciliation.
In America:
Storytelling Performance:
Through an interactive storytelling performance, individuals experience the powerful lessons South African’s learned during apartheid. Participants simultaneously explore their own relationship to compassion for themselves and the power of their voice.
Transforming Privilege Workshops Series:
This eight-day workshop series creates a space for white middle and upper middle class Americans to explore their relationship to privilege. Using storytelling techniques, participants are guided through a personal storytelling experience.
Inter-group Dialogue:
People from different cultures and classes are brought together to share their life experiences and to learn from the other groups experiences. Dialogues are co-facilitated by members of both identity groups present.
Mentorship Training:
Through partnerships with Universities and organizations we develop relationships of cultural exchange between American and South African youth. We also share our mentorship and storytelling tools to support programs running in America.
