Mentors for the Environment

The document outlines a customised course designed to equip individuals with the conceptual and practical tools necessary to develop effective mentoring activities in the environmental sector. It employs a systemic approach, treating mentoring as an activity system influenced by organisational culture, national policies, and individual dynamics. The course is structured into three modules: a systems analysis of mentoring, an exploration of mentoring theories (developmental, learning, and social/economic), and a toolkit for practical implementation. Key components include a pre-course assignment, a multi-day workshop, and an action research project where learners implement and evaluate a mentoring plan in a real-world workplace. The guide emphasizes the need for transformational competencies to create enabling environments for learning and professional growth in biodiversity and conservation.

• The environmental sector in South Africa faces a shortage of mentoring capacity, which hinders the development of necessary green skills; however, the issue is often a lack of time, skills, and confidence among willing mentors rather than a total absence of candidates.
• The course adopts a systemic approach to mentoring, viewing it as an 'activity system' where the relationship between individuals is shaped by interacting components: objects/outcomes, artefacts, subjects, rules of engagement, communities of practice, and the division of labour.
• Mentoring theories are categorized into three main groups: Developmental theories (focusing on life stages), Learning theories (such as Andragogy, Behaviourism, and Constructivism), and Social and Economic theories (focusing on human capital and social networks).
• The guide identifies several mentoring models beyond the traditional one-on-one dyad, including group mentoring, peer mentoring, reverse mentoring, and 'secondments' where an expert is temporarily placed in an organisation to share experience.
• Effective mentoring requires specific 'power tools' for communication, specifically active listening, reflective listening, and the use of 'powerful questions' to guide the mentee through the GROW model (Goals, Reality, Options, Wrap-up).
• The document highlights the role of macro-level South African policies—such as the National Skills Development Strategy III and the Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa—in framing workplaces as sites of learning and necessitating increased mentoring.
• The course methodology is based on 'participatory learning' and 'action research,' requiring participants to conduct a situational analysis of their workplace and implement a mentoring plan to achieve 'expansive learning'.
• The guide provides a competency profile for mentors, asserting that effectiveness depends on a combination of knowledge (e.g., HR policy), practical skills (e.g., conflict resolution), and values (e.g., empathy and integrity).

APA

Rosenberg, E., Raven, G., Warner, C., Feldman, F., Hesqua, L., Misser, S., & Stellenboom, S. (n.d.). Mentors for the Environment. WWF South Africa. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentors_course_file.pdf

Chicago

Rosenberg, Eureta, Glenda Raven, Claire Warner, Farrha Feldman, Letasha Hesqua, Shanu Misser, and Simonne Stellenboom. Mentors for the Environment. WWF South Africa, n.d. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentors_course_file.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Eureta |last2=Raven |first2=Glenda |last3=Warner |first3=Claire |last4=Feldman |first4=Farrha |last5=Hesqua |first5=Letasha |last6=Misser |first6=Shanu |last7=Stellenboom |first7=Simonne |title=Mentors for the Environment |publisher=WWF South Africa |url=http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentors_course_file.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rosenbergndmentors, author = {Rosenberg, Eureta and Raven, Glenda and Warner, Claire and Feldman, Farrha and Hesqua, Letasha and Misser, Shanu and Stellenboom, Simonne}, title = {{Mentors for the Environment}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentors_course_file.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }