The goal of having a Mentor is to allow a participant to engage in a more personal relationship with an experienced individual who can:
Mentor profiles will be made available to participants in a private Mentor Portal. The Mentor can confirm/deny the request and the engagement can begin as soon as both parties accept.
Mentorship is a big part of the Center's 4-week program. Mentors are the role models, coaches, acquaintances, and guiding lights who will be a crucial part of developing our participants to positively improve their communities, enhance their leadership skills, and become global citizens. The goal of the Mentor/Mentee relationship is to offer both parties a chance to learn from each other and to build understanding across generations, culture, citizenship, backgrounds, etc.
Below are some questions that help to provide insight into the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Mentorship Program.
As a mentor, you might be the guide, coach, or expert that a young leader is looking up to for inspiration, motivation, and support.
A mentor in the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Program is someone who has worked at least three meaningful years and can use his/her own experiences to provide some perspective or specific skill guidance. S/he is interested in helping a Mentee to build leadership skills by exposing real life examples, sharing opportunities for growth, and helping to foster insights.
It is totally up to you, as the Mentor, and the Mentee. It can just be a call once a month, frequent contact via Email, etc. However, we encourage Mentors and Mentees to interact at least once a week during the six-month mentorship relationship if possible. At the end of the six-month program, the Mentor and Mentee will have the option to continue or discontinue their engagement if they feel that they have achieved their mutually set goals.
The best mentorship relationships are those that happen organically. As such, once a Mentor completes a form found here, a Mentor profile is built and shared on a private portal open only to participants of the YALI RLC East Africa Program. Participants can then identify and request to be matched with a Mentor based on the criteria that s/he is looking for in a Mentor. Upon approval, the mentor and the mentee define mutually agreeable goals and work towards achieving them.
Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship. You will learn new, alternative ways of thinking or approaching life’s challenges. You will be challenged to stay on top of industry/organizational/topical news and trends so that you can provide your Mentee with up-to-date advice. You will get satisfaction from empowering your Mentee to improve himself/herself.
Being a Mentor is voluntary and unpaid.
The YALI RLC EA Team will offer technical assistance, reference materials, mentorship workshops and other forms of support to the mentors and mentees.
We sincerely appreciate your willingness to share your time, talent, skills, and knowledge with a young leader through the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Mentorship Program. For questions regarding the Mentorship Program, please contact Alumni & Volunteer Relations Office, mentorship@yalieastafrica.org.