Dare recognizes the importance of collaborative efforts of all stakeholders including student volunteers and professional mentors to bring about transformative change within local communities and South Africa. All these stakeholders form a part of Dare’s ever-growing mentor network where mentors are categorised into ad-hoc or full-time mentors. To foster youthful collaborations and ignite the passion for mentorship in young people, Dare has set out to pair its IDMS Cultiv8 and IDMS Academy mentees with university students to provide academic support to these mentees.

These university students are formally referred to as Big Sis/Bro at Dare where they are responsible for providing academic support to our IDMS Cultiv8 and IDMS Academy mentees. It is worth noting that Dare’s academic support takes place as subject mentoring and not tutoring which refers to forming an understanding of how to approach particular subjects, thus equipping the mentees with critical analysis skills and problem-solving skills. Each Big Sister/Brother will receive training from Dare mentorship and specifically subject mentoring before being paired with and introduced to their little sis/bro. The programme is run on an annual basis, where Dare aims to seek new university students every year which utilises online and in-person subject mentoring sessions.

At Dare, we recognise the importance of the work experience that students need to enter the workforce. Thus, the Big Sis/Bro, Dare aims to provide a professional experience for you as the Big Sis/Bro that can build your work profile as you continue to enhance your skill set Furthermore, Dare will assist the Big Sis/Bro with work profile write-ups through workshops. Once your mentorship has come to a close, you will still form part of Dare’s mentor network where you have contact with other students and professionals.