This summer, the 10th cohort of the Routes Mentoring Programme completed their participation on our flagship mentoring programme: a 4 months mentoring programme, where professional women leaders from across sectors are paired with women from refugee backgrounds. In this blog, Routes’ Mentoring Programme Manager Tamana Safi shares some of the highlights from our 10th Mentoring Programme. It’s an edited extract from her speech, that she gave at our recent Celebration event.
Routes 10th mentoring cohort started in the month of April - a time filled with lots of festival celebrations, such as Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and even the King’s Coronation. This cohort was so special, as were all the festivals - and the start of the mentoring journey for the Routes mentees and mentors.
The journey of forming bonds started with mentors completing the two day training sessions with Routes and mentees coming over to the Routes office for collecting their Welcome Pack and attending the Mentee Launch. We at Routes enjoyed watching the pairs building their relationship with each other; saying ‘Hello!’ for the first time to each other over an email or Zoom or WhatsApp and sharing smiles in person.
Screenshot from our online Celebration event with mentors and mentees of the 10th Routes Mentoring Programme.
The highlights from the pair's meeting notes were so beautiful. Routes felt brighter - like the pairs did - after reading and hearing about their meeting highlights, learning and growth.
We heard from our pairs about wonderful moments in their mentoring meetings: learning about the motherland of the Beatles, sharing the meaning of your name and what it means to you, sharing the value of this Programme and what it means to you, sharing the excitement of saying ‘hello’ to a stranger and the way it made you feel seen by others.
We learned about people’s dedication to educate themselves. and how pairs talked about new concepts such as ‘talk the talk, walk the walk’. Some pairs celebrated their birthdays, someone was featured in a movie, some danced, and some prepared presentations together. The focus on learning, celebrating small successes and bonding relationships was really impressive.
Mentors had further training opportunities, and mentees joined us for workshops on topics such as public speaking, online communication and self-advocacy. A big shout out to the wonderful facilitators that we get to work with at Routes, and that share their skills and expertise so generously with our participants!
Some memories from our 10th Mentoring Programme (from left to right): Public Speaking workshop for mentees, Routes Head of Programmes Wieke with Routes Mentoring Programme Manager Tamana getting ready for some speeches, and a group photo from our August Garden Social.
This is indeed not the end but hopefully the beginning of new chapters in our participants’ lives. The knowledge, guidance, and support shared between the pairs have left a beautiful mark on their growth. Cherish the memories, the lessons learned, and the bonds formed. Continue to embrace challenges, seek wisdom, and pass on your knowledge to others.
As our pairs part ways, we hope that they'll carry a piece of each other in their hearts. Celebrate the progress you’ve made and take pride in the impact you’ve had on one another. Routes will be here to cheer you on!
Our pairs are now officially Routes mentoring alumni, and we are delighted to welcome them to our alumni community! As a valued member of our alumni network, they join a diverse group of individuals who have benefited from our Mentoring Programme and are making a positive impact in their respective fields.
Dear 10th cohort, we are wishing you all success, fulfilment, and joy in all your future endeavours. Cherish the lessons learned and the bonds formed. May yours and our paths cross again in the future!
Mentors and mentees of the 10th Routes Mentoring cohort at the Garden Social in August 2023.
We are so proud to have supported 10 mentoring cohorts so far, and are looking forward to welcoming our 11th this autumn. Please continue to read our blog and LinkedIn for updates about our upcoming programmes. And if you’d like to sign up to join us as a mentor or mentee, the next round of recruitment will open in December.
