Peer mentoring is when two people of a similar age work together in a relationship where the focus of this relationship is the needs of one person – the mentee. The relationship is one which is caring and supportive and encourages individuals to achieve their fullest potential. This relationship aims to assist both individuals with developing their potential and builds a range of life skills.
Strong Mentors
The strength of mentors is an essential aspect to the success of this project. As mentors are the role models and leaders, they need to be strong and committed young people. This project has been so successful because it has provided highly tangible and ‘real’ young leaders as role models. They also have a significant impact on the maintenance of behaviours of mentees and assist Coordinators with many aspects of activities during Saturday sessions. This is a major asset to the project and has had a significant impact on its success.
The Role of a Mentor
• A support person
• Someone who provides vital information and skills to a mentee and shares their expertise and experiences
• Someone who assists mentees with problems and issues by providing advice and feedback
• Someone who assists a mentee with learning through friendship and a connection to various networks
How Involvement Benefits Mentors
• High-level practical and theoretical inter-cultural training and experience relevant to many humanities courses at University
• High-level leadership and conflict-resolution training
• Greater connectedness, access to, involvement with and understanding of Multicultural Service Providers in Brisbane, which will increase employability in the sector
• Enhanced awareness of the complexities facing young African refugees in Brisbane
• Increased development of communication and leadership skills
• An enhanced social circle
• Personal fulfilment of working closely with a young person in need
• Great fun!
Leadership Training Provided
Leadership training of mentors involved four sessions of five hours each, where participants (potential mentors) were provided with a range of activities and engaged in a various discussions about leadership and mentoring. Key training topics and exercises included:
• Leadership skills
– Examining leaders in their own lives
– Exploring what traits make good and bad leaders, including examples and case studies
– Discussing good leadership skills
• Communications skills
– Exploring the range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills
– Role plays and demonstrations of the effect of non-verbal communication on messages, various activities demonstrating different types of communication and the importance of effective communication
– Why are communication skills important to leaders
• Self Awareness
– Exploring different personality types
– Increasing awareness of individual skills, strengths and possible weaknesses
– Emphasising the need to deal with others with respect, understanding and tolerance for differences
– Discussions on discrimination and tolerance
• Issues Affecting Recently Arrived Young African People
– Brainstorming and in-depth discussions/debriefing about the range of issues that affect young African people living in Brisbane. An examination of their lives as refugees and their experiences
– Exploring their own strategies for dealing with these challenges and experiences
– Sharing experiences and strengthening ties between participants
– Developing a clear understanding of the types of challenges that mentees will be facing and how they can assist with these challenges
• The activities also begin to foster relationships and friendships by encouraging cooperation and facilitating teambuilding. This creates an environment that is supportive and encouraging
The Role of a Mentee
• Someone who displays potential to develop their life skills
• Somebody who needs support in various aspects of life
• Someone who wants more friends and contacts
How Involvement Benefits Mentees
• Greater social and cultural connectedness
• Opportunity to access support from excellent peer role models and facilitators
• Opportunity to enhance English language skills
• Opportunity for a deeper understanding of the differences between Australian and different African systems and institutions and the implications of these differences on daily life (eg. legal rights and responsibilities, gender issues, sexual health etc)
• Opportunities for fun, exciting and adventurous activities in a safe and supportive environment (this can include sport workshops, various excursions, camps etc.)
• Leadership and inter-cultural training
If you wish to participate in the Peer Mentoring program you can download the forms:
- Paricipant Enrolment form here
- Photo/Video Authorisation form here
- Referral Form here
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