10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

The involving role of higher education institutions in South Africa increasingly demands that universities move beyond the traditional teaching and research functions towards socially responsive and transformative community partnerships. In this context, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) performs its institutional mandate through teaching and learning, research and innovation, and engaged scholarship. This paper examines mentorship at a selected boy’s shelter in Emfuleni as an engaged scholarship project to support vulnerable young boys within a shelter setting. While this shelter provides basic care and protection, there continues to be a critical need for structured developmental and mentoring interventions to promote emotional well-being, educational motivation, leadership development and social integration. This paper utilises Social Learning Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory to explore the impact of mentorship relationships on behavioural and developmental change among boys at the shelter. The paper is qualitative case study and is situated in the interpretivist paradigm. The Emfuleni boys shelter staff and boys who participated in the mentorship programme were selected based on the purposive sampling method. Data was gathered through observations, reflective engagements and interactive mentorship activities. The results showed positive contributions of the mentorship programme in confidence building, psychosocial support, behaviour change, educational encouragement and development of meaningful interpersonal relationships. This included academic support, life skills development, career guidance, motivational engagements and recreational interactions. The paper concludes that mentorship programmes in boys shelters are a meaningful form of engaged scholarship that has the potential to advance youth development and social transformation. The paper recommends institutionalisation of sustainable mentorship programmes within higher education community engagement frameworks to strengthen long-term impact and collaborative societal development.