FGASA Mentorship Program

FGASA KZN North is proud to announce this region's own mentorship program. Everywhere in South Africa there has always been the need to somehow support those people who would love to be a guide one day, but who don't have the financial means to do a full course. After all, a full 10 week in house training course costs around R30.000, because it will cover all tuition (teacher's salaries), learner materials, food, accommodation, registration, membership and exam fees and a First Aid course.

There are a number of training providers who have taken desperate students in for a course for a reduced fee, or even totally for free. Other options have included letting the learner do it all self study, but having a mentor with whom he/she can meet on a regular basis to ask questions and go over the study material, to optimally prepare the learner for one of the National Exam Sittings.

Past experiences of myself and Bhejane Nature Training has learned us many lessons, and finally now we feel that we have an idea of what is required to make any mentorship successful. Below an outline of criteria:

• The learner must have attained a full matric certificate.
• The learner must be fully literate, and be able to converse without any hassle in English.
• The learner must be passionate about the bush as well as about people, about teaching and about guiding, and not just looking into guiding and a mentorship just for an opportunity 'to find a job'. We have found that it makes no sense to look for any member in a community and offer him a mentorship just so he can get employment. Invariably they have dropped out in the past, simply because they don't have the commitment it takes to work hard in order to get a FGASA qualification. 
• For this reason, the learner must approach a possible member with a request, rather than a mentor 'looking for' a student he can mentor. 
• The learner must pay for his FGASA starter pack (manuals, workbook, registration fee, one year membership fee) him/herself, currently going @ R1035 for Level 1 Nature Guide and R1045 for Level 1 Marine Guide. This to make it an investment of their own as well, spreading the risk of money being wasted evenly over the learner and the mentor. This is also meant to ensure that learner is really committed to achieving this qualification.
• It is then up for the mentor to sponsor additional study books and/or pay for exam sittings (R300) and/or practical assessments (from R500 onwards), and/or the compulsory First Aid course (Prices vary) and the Registration fees with the Dept. Environmental Affairs and Tourism (R240) in order for the learner to become a legal guide.
• The mentor's involvement will mainly be of an academic rather than a financial nature, investing time in helping the learner study, prepare for the exams, and facilitating practical sessions.
• We recommend that the learner and mentor sign a contract or mutual agreement of responsibilities, and a timeframe with deadlines to ensure steady progress of the learner.

We are also proud to announce that the following people have been awarded a mentorship program with myself in conjuction with Bhejane Nature Training.

Agrippa Shange

Simon Mdletshe

Agrippa Shange, Turtle Guide at Bhanga Neck, Kosi Bay has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide. He plans to write the theory in March.

Simon Mdletshe, Cook at Munyawaneni Bush Lodge, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide. He plans to write the theory in October.

Patrick Mthethwa, FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide at Tembe Elephant Park has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 2 Advanced Nature Guide as well as the FGASA Birding Specialist qualification. He plans to have his practical assessment for the Birding done before June, and the Level 2 theory in October.

Myself and Patrick Mthethwa

All three candidates receive different types of support from us, and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.

Should you want a mentorship, or feel you could be a mentor, please feel free to contact me (nick.vandewiel@gmail.com) or Christa Panos (dpanos@tiscali.co.za) for more information.