Mentorship Program
Become a mentor here.
To date, Africa Yoga Project has trained over 115 youth from Kenya through an AYP Teacher Training and Baron Baptiste's Level 1 and Level 2 teacher trainings. Today, Africa Yoga Project employs 72 of these instructors to teach over 300 free classes a week. The AYP Mentor Program was developed to create a bridge between our aspiring Kenyan teachers and individuals all over the world. In 2011, our first year of the Mentor Program, Mentors from the US, Canada, Australia and Europe were paired with an Africa Yoga Project Teacher and the program has been growing ever since!
The Mentor Program allows Mentors to be a catalyst for change in their home communities, while also contributing to a growing impact on the lives and careers of Africa Yoga Project Teachers.
The Mentor Program is a 12-month commitment. The monthly contribution of $125 pays for the salary of an AYP teacher. Mentors and AYP Teachers engage in monthly Skype conversations and email exchanges. In order to facilitate learning and sharing, a new theme is presented each month, based on the year of the mentee.
We are currently looking for mentors for our new mentees of 2017. If you are interested in becoming a Mentor for the 2017 Program, please email programs@africayogaproject.org!!
Mentors share experiences
MaryLyn Jenkins, Big Fish Yoga
Mentor to Ann
"From the first email asking if I would be interested in mentoring an AYP teacher, I thought 'who am I to mentor anyone?' My excitement to support and encourage a new teacher in Kenya outweighed my doubts about anything I thought I lacked. In agreeing to mentor, I was placed with Ann...a Kenyan rockstar who is teaching classes every day to children and also to women in prison. She is young, expecting a baby and deals with real life situations...many I relate to and many that I have never been a part of.Despite our different surroundings, we connected in a big way immediately. We talked about relationships, fears, joys, siblings, motherhood, children, AYP, yoga and teaching. I saw Ann ALIVE...she is alive with joy for life and is inspired to encourage others through empowered teaching. Through the past months, we've crammed conversations and questions into an hour of face time and followed up with emails. I see her as my friend...but I also see who I get to be for her as an opportunity to support and encourage her...it's an opportunity to give her tools that will grow her into a powerful woman to empower others. Mentoring has created a friendship, however, it is more powerful than that; I get to listen, support, encourage and advise, and it is all to break her through to greatness. Her opportunity to make a profound difference in her community is, in fact, empowering me to empower her more!
The mentorship program is not only for Ann. It is an experience that affects me daily. She sends me a big kiss through Skype before disconnecting and I have a hard time holding back tears. The fact that growth is happening in her and in me because of simple communication at a heart level is effecting my community as well as her community. The work that the AYP organization is doing, and the small part the AYP Mentor Program allowed me to be a part of, is a continuing example of what we were all created to do...work as hard as we can to give all that we can. Thank you Africa Yoga Project."
Mark White, MBody Yoga
Mentor to Richy
"Being an AYP mentor has truly brought a whole new perspective to my life and my teaching. The precious gift I get from giving to this program pales in comparison to the powerful relation I am building with my mentee, Richy. To me, this program is about integrity that empowers a bond and accountability between me and my fellow brother who wants for his country and community, what I want for my country and community—compassion, love, and peace. Together, through our monthly dialogue and communication, we are simultaneously able to generate our worldly intentions and create powerful communities that are up to something BIG! Thank you AYP for creating this amazing vision for our community to live into! What a powerful difference we are all creating for humanity."
Basilio takes part of the mentorship program and has experienced what it is like to have someone take a stand for his greatness. Each month he follows up with his mentor to discuss specific content as well as ask questions on how to elevate his teaching. He is supported and connected to the world wide yoga community!