This is the first year that the University will embark on AIME. The programme will serve as a conduit between high schools and the University. During AIME, university students mentor high school learners in previously disadvantaged communities. The University will be working with schools in Mamelodi and looks forward to seeing learners achieve success and push the boundaries beyond what they previously deemed possible.

AIME’s objective is to expand to other nations as part of a long-term campaign to make mentoring the global norm, and to grow the TV show, AIME TV, in which mentors speak truthfully about mentoring, into a global educational resource for any person working with 12- to 18-year-olds.

Research has shown that children who take part in the programme close the educational gap between themselves and their mainstream peers, and then transition to university, further training and employment at the same rate. Historical data in Australia show that 40% of indigenous people aged 18 to 25 are at university, undergoing training or are employed. The average for the same cohort of non-indigenous people is 75%.

AIME is active in 40 regions of Australia and involves about five thousand university student mentors in total.

For more information, go to www.aimementoring.com