SAYes Mentoring - Support our UK Programmes

Since our last report, the SAYes Mentoring circle has grown wider and louder in the best way. Our mentor community came together in person this summer, with meetups in London at Regent's Park, in Cape Town at the Academy of Digital Arts (with a Women's Day theme) and in Berlin, plus an alumni meetup in London. Mentors are volunteers, and these gatherings give them a place to share what they are learning and feel part of something bigger than their own match.

July brought Mandela Month and our Night at the Musicals fundraiser, and our co-founders Michelle Potter and Gillian Anderson announced their role as One Young World counsellors. Our team also attended LSEG Foundation Day, where a possible collaboration with Malaika came up.

We have new partners and a new programme to share. The Zurich Foundation partnership is underway, with new matches beginning. Helpmore Charities is sponsoring 10 new matches outright and encouraging its community to fund more. In South Africa, we are launching a structured three-month mentorship programme for young people in residential care and vulnerable households, focused on education, employability and reducing risk. We will share more detail as it takes shape.

On 9 September, SAYes turned 18. Every one of those years is made of one-to-one relationships, and the young people at the centre keep proving why they matter. Kwabena, a mentee in the UK who was featured in our newsletter for his debut novel, publishes his second novel this October. Thank you for being part of the circle that makes these matches possible.

1. Program Activity Overview

Youseline Dufrene, a mentee supported through SAYes Mentoring's programming, was invited to attend and speak at CityLab 2026 in Madrid, Spain, a prestigious global summit hosted by Bloomberg and the Aspen Institute. This opportunity represents a direct outcome of the leadership development and confidence-building work central to SAYes Mentoring's mission.

2. Key Achievements & Milestones

• Represented SAYes Mentoring on an international stage alongside mayors, innovators, and global changemakers.
• Participated as a panelist in a session moderated by Garrett Richardson, alongside prominent figures including Lib Peck (Director, London Violence Reduction Unit), Okela Douglas-Norgrove (CEO, Sister System), Unis Ali, and Dr. Jean E. Rhodes.
• Engaged directly with global leaders, including the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in discussions on youth development, community change, and mentorship.
• Networked with representatives from international organisations and institutes, strengthening SAYes Mentoring's reach and profile.
• Fulfilled a long-held personal and professional aspiration: to speak internationally and contribute to rooms where real change is being shaped.

 3. Impact & Participant Reflection

Youseline described the experience as transformational, noting that every leader present, regardless of title, shared a common commitment to making the world better. She highlighted the following personal and professional growth outcomes:

• Confidence: Being welcomed into high-level conversations affirmed that young voices belong in influential spaces.
• Mentorship reinforced: The support received from Lib Peck and others demonstrated the real-world impact of mentorship, the very value SAYes Mentoring champions.
• Knowledge and networks: Exposure to leaders from diverse sectors and countries broadened Youseline’s perspective on how change happens globally.
• Community inspiration: Returned with a renewed commitment to encouraging others in her community to start small, volunteer, and believe in the power of incremental action.

 “No matter their title — mayor, organiser, innovator, activist, or entrepreneur — every single person in that room had one thing in common. They wanted to make the world better. That stayed with me.”

— Youseline Dufrene, CityLab 2026 Participant

4. Alignment with SAYes Mentoring Mission

This experience is a living example of what SAYes Mentoring works toward every day: equipping young people with the relationships, confidence, and opportunities to step into meaningful spaces. Youseline’s participation at CityLab demonstrates that mentorship is not just a support system, it is a launchpad. The connections made, conversations held, and skills developed at this event directly reflect the long-term outcomes GlobalGiving donors make possible.

5. Looking Ahead

Building on the momentum from CityLab 2026, SAYes Mentoring will continue to:

• Create and expand opportunities for mentees to participate in regional and international leadership spaces.
• Leverage new relationships forged at CityLab to deepen SAYes Mentoring’s partnerships and networks.
• Share Youseline’s story to inspire other young people within our community to pursue bold opportunities.
• Demonstrate to donors the tangible impact of their investment in mentorship.

 Thank You to Our Donors

Stories like Youseline’s are only possible because of your generosity and belief in the power of mentorship. Thank you for making moments like these real. Your support fuels the next generation of changemakers.

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