When I first heard about Routes, It was like an opportunity come through. I remember it was at Say It Loud Club in a women’s side workshop. It is when I sat attentively and listened to what Routes is and what they do. I was very interested and I noted her email and took home the flyer she distributed to us.
I signed up to the mentoring programme because I wanted to have my sense of direction back in terms of realignment to my life’s purpose. I really wanted to be matched with a mentor who would understand my confusion and help me get my feet back on track. I signed up so that I can be part of the Routes community, I wanted a safe space to belong as I grow. My worry was being deskilled as I await my asylum case to be heard, so I really wanted to be part of a programme that would help me get information about opportunities and valuable information to keep me occupied as I create impact in the UK community.
Before I met my mentor for the first time, I was really curious and eager to meet a person who would listen to me and wondered how we would start the journey and if we would be a perfect match with the same interests.
I am happy to note that my mentor is an amazing woman and we are both feminists, what a perfect match! She is a good listener, patient, organised and creative.
Currently, my mentor and I are working on my goals; applying to University, proof reading my personal statements and double checking if my actions are in line with my values and strengths. We also identify any obstacles along the way and amicably derive working strategies on how to overcome them.
Our meetings are definitely leading somewhere and I always look forward to meeting my mentor each week. They are yielding and one meeting leads to the other, I describe it as climbing the ladder and we are almost reaching to the top where the view will be more beautiful.
About the progress we are making; I was able to identify my values and strengths. These were then aligned to my goal for the mentoring programme. I was able to identify the Universities and which courses I am interested in plus the scholarships to these courses. I have managed to write personal statements and edit them. My mentor has done a good job to help me proofread and guide me accordingly. I was looking into finding volunteering opportunities too and talking to my mentor has helped me be confident on what to expect in interviews, she has helped me to brainstorm on what to include in my cover letters. This guidance from her professional point of view has helped me to critically think for myself and to be logical and practical when talking about my experience.
For the challenges; I can say not everyday is a Sunday and some days will come bright while others come dark and for the darkest of time you have to pull yourself out of the ditch to rise again like a giant. Some days I find myself not motivated because of worries out of my control for instance wondering what the future will be like especially in my situation of seeking safety in the UK. On those anxious days it's really hard to push myself but the email reminders from my mentor asking about progress on my tasks gives me a wake up call to remember that I have a purpose to live and achieve.
By the end of the programme, I hope to have submitted my university applications for September 2021. I also hope to be more confident and be able to work on other personal development projects by myself even after the programme ends.
I encourage everyone who wants to join Routes mentoring programme and as mentee that do not hesitate to join the collective efforts of empowering women because it is your input that makes history, at the same impacting someone’s life for a lifetime. It is a life long learning experience you should not miss to incorporate in your life or professional journey. It is worth the try, bring it on and let us do this!
Last but not least, I think mentoring is a good opportunity for women seeking safety in a way that it helps you realise your potential, in case you have lost hope, it makes you find your purpose and definitely it helps you integrate in the community as you become part of a group that is known for creating impact; that alone builds your credibility in society. Mentoring puts you back on track and you can always refer to that experience even in the future for inspiration. It is a life long learning process you can never regret.
Thank you for reading my article.
Written By Martha Atuheire
