Not only do the girls benefit from the programme but the mentors
too benefit from deeper insights and experience of another side of life, which creates great humility seeing how the girls grow, develop and open up. Shy introspective girls given the attention they have never had, together with care, guidance
and support will change dramatically and become able to overcome and face the world. It is also inspirational to see the girls who in turn give of themselves to mentor siblings and youngsters in the programme as they are both thankful and convinced of the benefits.
The greatest example of this
are those wonderful champions of the programme who have won scholarships
to the USA and come back totally
unrecognisable, accomplished and confident.
Such journeys are not always easy and one of the most memorable learning experiences I had was with one of the alumni. It taught me you always have to see the world from the other person’s perspective and expect and deal with the unexpected. The girl was an extremely intelligent girl who I offered an internship in our business. She started but within the first week disappeared. I was amazed as it was a great chance to improve her CV with a well known and respected firm and she had been so keen.
I called her to find out what happened and was told that as the allowance we were giving her didn’t fully cover her travel expenses leaving her US$ 0.50 short on a daily basis her mother had told her she could not return. Her mother had no understanding of the value of the internship and the girl was too embarrassed to tell me there was a problem. I am thrilled that she is now excelling, as we all knew she would and is another wonderful example of the power and success of the programme.
Mentorship is not for everyone but it is the most rewarding, illuminating and educational thing I have ever done. I would wholeheartedly encourage you
join our team of mentors or support the great work being done to give a bright future to these wonderful girls who without such support would never reach their potential and the country would be worse off as a result.
Measuring success.