WMRCC of Durham is offering women in need of emotional and practical support an opportunity to overcome the challenges they are facing by providing them with supportive mentoring.

Purpose

Personal development and achievement can be reached more effectively when individuals experience a true sense of connectedness, confidence and strength. Emotional and economic stability are also an important part of any personal growth. There are times, however, that we experience life challenges that make this growth seem unachievable. For this reason, WMRCC of Durham is offering women in transition a supportive mentoring program that will assist them in overcoming personal challenges.

How does the program work?

This program is geared towards women who are experiencing life challenges and are looking to establish a support system. Mentors are selected from a list of volunteers that undergo supportive mentorship training. Once a match is determined for a client, the 2 parties sign a mentorship agreement that can last for up to 6 months. The mentor and mentee are expected to meet once a week to work on pre-determined goals. The mentor will provide the mentee with non-judgmental support from a feminist and anti-oppressive framework based on the training. Together, they will build a client-centered relationship aimed at building life-skills, reducing isolation and increasing self-worth.

Who is the mentee?

Women looking for support for the following reasons can access the supportive mentorship program:

• Leaving an abusive relationship

• Getting back into the workforce

• Experiencing personal challenges

• Newcomers needing a conversation partner to improve language skills

• Newcomers looking for support and orientation

• Overcoming isolation

Who is the mentor?

Women willing to provide a couple of hours weekly to support a participant in achieving set goals. Mentors will be expected to participate in a 3 week volunteer training program to gain an anti-oppressive, feminist perspective of women’s issues and challenges, a client-centered approach to mentorship and the role and responsibilities of a supportive mentor. In addition, a criminal reference check is required.

The mentor will also experience personal gains from both the training and the mentorship relationship including:

• The satisfaction of supporting someone in need

• Developing and understanding of transferable skills and strategies

• Ongoing support and coaching from our counsellors

• A letter of recognition indicating participation in the program

• A chance to build a network of likeminded women through the training program

• The opportunity for self-reflection

WMRCC of Durham is offering women in need of emotional and practical support an opportunity to overcome the challenges they are facing by providing them with supportive mentoring.

Purpose

Personal development and achievement can be reached more effectively when individuals experience a true sense of connectedness, confidence and strength. Emotional and economic stability are also an important part of any personal growth. There are times, however, that we experience life challenges that make this growth seem unachievable. For this reason, WMRCC of Durham is offering women in transition a supportive mentoring program that will assist them in overcoming personal challenges.

How does the program work?

This program is geared towards women who are experiencing life challenges and are looking to establish a support system. Mentors are selected from a list of volunteers that undergo supportive mentorship training. Once a match is determined for a client, the 2 parties sign a mentorship agreement that can last for up to 6 months. The mentor and mentee are expected to meet once a week to work on pre-determined goals. The mentor will provide the mentee with non-judgmental support from a feminist and anti-oppressive framework based on the training. Together, they will build a client-centered relationship aimed at building life-skills, reducing isolation and increasing self-worth.

Who is the mentee?

Women looking for support for the following reasons can access the supportive mentorship program:

• Leaving an abusive relationship

• Getting back into the workforce

• Experiencing personal challenges

• Newcomers needing a conversation partner to improve language skills

• Newcomers looking for support and orientation

• Overcoming isolation

Who is the mentor?

Women willing to provide a couple of hours weekly to support a participant in achieving set goals. Mentors will be expected to participate in a 3 week volunteer training program to gain an anti-oppressive, feminist perspective of women’s issues and challenges, a client-centered approach to mentorship and the role and responsibilities of a supportive mentor. In addition, a criminal reference check is required.

The mentor will also experience personal gains from both the training and the mentorship relationship including:

• The satisfaction of supporting someone in need

• Developing and understanding of transferable skills and strategies

• Ongoing support and coaching from our counsellors

• A letter of recognition indicating participation in the program

• A chance to build a network of likeminded women through the training program

• The opportunity for self-reflection