How it works

The programme identifies and targets high-potential, talented students in grades 10 to 12 from underprivileged rural schools. The students must be motivated and committed to becoming part of the programme. These students form the mentee group.

In parallel, we recruit mentors – university students (minimum 2nd year), academically trained professionals, and teachers, ideally with backgrounds in science, technology, or engineering – who are committed to supporting the academic and personal development of the mentees.

Each mentee is paired with a mentor in a 1-to-1 mentoring model. The goal is to foster a meaningful relationship over time, through which the mentor supports the mentee in areas such as:

• Tutoring in their subject-specific field of study

• Career guidance

• University and job applications

• Housing and relocation advice and support

• Provision of study materials

• Goal setting and personal development

• ...

The core objective of the programme is to provide individualised and personal support to students who have the cognitive capacity of excelling in an academic or professional field, but who face external obstacles and constraints that hinder their professional development. By fostering long-term relationships, the programme aims to build a support network that helps overcome these obstacles. The programme seeks to ensure that these students are able to realise fundamental capabilities such as access to education, practical reasoning, and the freedom to pursue life paths they have reason to value. The objective is not only to recognise talent, but to translate potential into real opportunities for choice, agency, and participation.

At the start of the mentorship, each mentee will define their personal goals (e.g., pursuing higher education) and identify key topics they wish to work on with their mentor.

Mentors can decide how much time they wish to commit to the programme. Aside from initial in-person events where mentors and mentees meet, most interactions take place remotely (e.g. via messaging apps or Zoom). This enables mentors to offer support efficiently.

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