Until you have met Andrew Koopman, you have no idea what a South African hero really looks like. You will not notice him in a crowd, and when he does push forward to greet you the last thing you see is one of South Africa's most inspiring community activists.What you see, rather, is a slightly unkempt man who forgot to shave that morning and who is more likely to ask you for spare change than bring you a book to sign.That is what Andrew looks like through the prejudiced lens of a middle-class South African eye. The owner of AK Snapshots runs a study group in Tafelsig and young people come from other parts of the Cape Flats to form part of Koopman's amazing project.And when you see him there is something that puzzles you right away. Wherever Andrew goes, there are six to nine schoolchildren walking behind him like disciples following their spiritual leader.Where the mentor goes, the disciples go, trudging behind him with determined steps, often with book in hand. You see Andrew and his Mitchells Plain students at book fairs and at book launches; they tend to occupy a whole row of seats and he always books tickets in advance so that these teenagers can be present among new authors and participate in debates on the state of education, society and politics.They buy books and bring them for a signature. Invariably the young students come for a "selfie" and ask questions about career choices. They are more alert in your book talk than anyone else."Organisational change is not a straight line," I proffer, "for with every two steps forward you are likely to slide one step backwards."And then, as I am wont to do, I jump into the more youthful side of the audience with a slightly off-the-topic education question - "And what is the equation for a straight line?" - not expecting an on-the-spot answer on a lazy Saturday afternoon from the surprised youth in the crowd.Andrew's student cannot wait for the question to be completed: "y = mx + c" says a young man with the same calm with which one might have responded to a question about the time on your wrist watch.Andrew stands up and lists the achievements of this group of young black youth from the streets of Mitchells Plan - "this one 99% in mathematics, that one 95% in physical science, and this one ... " The audience gasps. These children do not come from the fancy schools in the southern suburbs but they achieve better than those whose parents pay exorbitant school fees on the leafy side of Cape Town.So what is the difference? It's called mentorship. So much of the focus of school change is, rightly so, on subject teachers. But what about those educators like Andrew who understand that teaching is much more than what happens in a classroom? It is also about making available the gift of mentorship to young high school students.The mentor opens the world to you outside the classroom. He or she brings you into networks that children might never otherwise gain from. This special kind of teacher senses learning opportunities over weekends in places like book talks - for once a child discovers the pleasure of reading, a life can change forever. The mentor speaks well of her students in public places, thereby raising the confidence levels of shy, reticent youth more than any lesson on algebraic equations can ever do.The mentor is "there" for you, always present, listening and responding, caring and promoting the youth in his charge. The mentor teaches wisdom while the regular teacher conveys knowledge. You follow the mentor and a new world opens up to you.More than ever before I receive e-mails and Facebook requests to become somebody's mentor. Young people realise they lack someone like Andrew to show them the way and to help them avoid mistakes made by others.So often adults at talks around the country ask me: "What can I do to help the situation, to make a difference in education?" Here is my suggestion - offer yourself as a mentor at a school. Take a small group and meet them regularly. Go to the movies, take them to book events, have them meet inspiring role models. More important than end-of-year exams, help our youth pass the examination of life...