During the March school holidays, the Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Research Programme hosted a grade 10 learner, Mbali Mogashwa, and a third year BSc Microbiology student, Rose Shabangu for a day. Under the supervision of FABI PhD candidate Ms Khumbuzile Bophela , the two students participated in various experiments to learn techniques commonly used by members of our research group. The experiments included isolating for single colonies using the streak-plate technique, Gram staining and DNA extraction from an onion. The students were also exposed to our other group activities; they got to sit in and listen to Valery Moloto , a PhD candidate at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) affiliated with FABI, give her mock seminar to the group. “Mentorship is more than just transferring of knowledge; it’s also about transforming the lives of those mentored,” explains Khumbuzile. Overall, the students enjoyed their time in the lab and received the motivation to pursue science-related careers. Some of the comments made by Mbali Mogashwa on her social media profile: -At University Of Pretoria I'm so enjoying myself ❤❤ “In the laboratory Having so much fun with scientists #future microbiologists” ❤❤Microbiology❤❤ #the future scientist Photo caption: Rose Shabangu (BSc Microbiology third-year student at the University of Pretoria), Mbali Mogashwa (Grade 10 learner at Kwa-Manala Secondary School, Allemansdrif, Mpumalanga) and Onkemetsi Moroeng (BSc. Agric. 4 th -year student who is currently mentored by Ms Khumbuzile Bophela for her final year project)