Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mentorship is a concept that has been with us for many years. Much research has been done about the effects of mentoring programmes on youth, but very little research has been onderlaken on how children and mentors experience mentoring programmes. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature. Qualitative research was done to explore the experiences of mentors and children in a particular mentoring programme. Participatory action research was used to include the participants in the research process. The data were gathered by using drawings and individual interviews with the children as well as the mentors. Through the process of data analysis, three main themes were determined. These themes were intrapersonal factors, interpersonal factors and external factors. The findings showed similarities as well as differences in the experiences of the mentors and the children. The main similarity pertained to the two types of relationship identified by mentors and children. The two types of relationship can be defined as one of friendship and one of authority and respect. The biggest difference in experiences concerned the way in which mentors were much more aware of external factors and how it influenced their experience. Mentors were much more concerned about the amount of time available, the place where they met and games and toys that could be used. For the children, the external factors did not matter as much; they were more excited about the relationship itself. This study aimed to answer the research question and the process brought several other questions to the attention. This study could be used as a reference in further studies about mentor programmes, especially in the South African context where very little research is available about mentor programmes and children’s experiences of these programmes. More research can be done about why the children did not mention the external factors and what that indicates. The reason why more girls than boys participate in the mentor programme and how older children experience the programme could also be researched. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mentorskap is ‘n konsep wat al jare lank deel is van die samelewing. Verskeie studies gedoen oor mentorskapprogramme en die effek daarvan op jeug is reeds gedoen. Min navorsing is egter al gedoen oor hoe kinders en mentors hierdie mentorprogramme ervaar. Die huidige studie is onderneem om ondersoek in te stel na mentors en kinders se ervaring van ‘n mentorprogram, spesifiek in Cloetesville, om sodoende die gaping in die literatuur aan te spreek. Kwalitatiewe navorsing is gedoen om hierdie ervarings te ondersoek en deelnemende aksienavorsing is gebruik om die deelnemers in groter mate by die navorsing te betrek. Data is ingesamel deur tekeninge en individuele onderhoude met die mentors en kinders onderskeidelik. Drie hooftemas vir beide die mentor en kinders het deur die data-analiseproses na vore gekom, naamlik intrapersoonlike, interpersoonlike en eksterne faktore. Die bevindinge het verskille sowel as ooreenkomste in mentors en kinders se ervaring van die mentorprogram aangedui. Beide die mentors en die kinders het hul verhouding op een van twee maniere ervaar. Die grootste verskil was mentors en kinders se siening omtrent die eksterne faktore. Mentors was meer bewus van die eksterne faktore wat hul ervaring beïnvloed as wat die kinders was. Die mentors was meer bewus van die tydsbeperkings, die plek waar mentorsessies plaasvind en die beskikbaarheid van speelgoed en ander hulpbronne. Kinders het die vriendskap as meer belangrik gesien as enige tasbare ding of meer tyd. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die vraag oor hoe mentors en kinders ‘n mentorprogram ervaar, te beantwoord. In hierdie proses het daar ook verskeie ander vrae na vore gekom. Hierdie studie kan daarom bydra tot verdere studies in hierdie rigting, veral in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks waar daar bitter min inligting beskikbaar is oor mentorskap en, meer spesifiek, oor kinders se ervaring van mentorprogramme. Hierdie studie kan gebruik word om ondersoek in te stel na hoekom kinders so min bewustheid van die eksterne faktore oorgedra het en hoekom meer meisies as seuns aan die mentorprogram deelneem. Dit kan ook gebruik word om ondersoek in te stel na hoe kinders tussen 11 en 18 jaar so ‘n program sal ervaar.