|
|
|
|
 |
| Home :: Information for Young People |
|
 |
 |
|
| |
| How to find a Mentor? |
| FAQs |
What is mentoring?
For the purpose of the Youth Mentoring Network, mentoring aims to provide a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement.
(Adapted from Mentor/National Mentoring Partnership and Robyn Hartley's 'Young people and mentoring: towards a national strategy' 2004 Report)
What can mentoring help me achieve?
Depending on the type of program you are part of, mentoring can help you achieve anything from finding a career that interests you, better grades at school, experience new social activities and learn essential skills for life. Your mentor can be someone who helps you find work experience or if they are a business mentor they can help you learn more about the organisation and professional resources needed to succeed in that area. Your mentor is someone you can talk to, someone who will listen to what you have to say and not judge you for it.
What activities will we do during the mentoring sessions?
Depending on the type of program you can do all sorts of activities such as researching careers on the internet, visiting work sites, playing sports, going to the movies, museums, and parks. You may also work on a community project together like planting the local community garden, building furniture at the local community shed or just sitting and talking to one another.
How long do I stay in the program?
Most programs have a minimum commitment that they ask all young people to adhere to. This could be anything from 12 weeks (the length of a school term) up to 1 year. In some programs if you and your mentor enjoy working together there is no end to how long you be in the program. In some organisations longer relationships are encouraged.
How am I allocated a mentor?
Every program matches mentors and young people differently but the common ways include matching a pair based on their interests and likes or on their religious or cultural backgrounds. This is achieved by comparing the comments each person has written on their application form. Other programs have welcome days. On these days a group of mentors and young people get together to play games, have a barbeque or work on activity sheets together. At the end of the day both groups nominate who they got along with best and are matched according to their preferences.
What if I don't get along with my mentor?
The matching process is a very careful process and the likelihood of a bad match is quite small but in the event that you don?t get along with your mentor you must notify the program staff. If the program is based in your school you can tell your teacher but if it is a community program it is good to call the program staff. You will not get into trouble. The staff or teacher may like to talk to you about this and see if the two of you can work things out. If this is not possible you may be rematched with another mentor if there are spare volunteers.
Is what I tell my mentor kept confidential?
What you tell your mentor will remain confidential unless you or someone else is at risk of being harmed. Then your mentor must tell someone else in a position of authority. (Usually the program staff).
How can I join a mentoring program?
You can find a mentoring program by simply clicking the How to find a Mentor? section at the top of the page. From here you will be able to find a mentoring program in your local area. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© copyright
. All rights reserved
Youth Mentoring Network
Photo Courtesy: Photolibrary.com |
|
|
|
|
|
