In the offices of DUO for a JOB, ten future mentors have just completed four days of intensive training. Why is such preparation essential? And how does it translate on the ground?
Creating a bridge between two worlds
Many mentor candidates come with an impressive professional background, but also a certain amount of apprehension. “Am I really up to it? How can I share my experience in a useful way? ” These are doubts that Kundan, a trainer at Atlas, hears regularly.
“The whole art of mentoring is bringing together two different frames of reference.”, tells us Kundan, trainer (Atlas).
The idea is not only to accumulate theoretical knowledge, but to change perspective. The objective? Understand how to build, together, a journey where everyone really contributes something to the other.
A toolbox for the road
Between two bursts of laughter and a few tight coffees, the formation sets the stage for a successful duo.
Volunteers are coached on four essential pillars:
đź“Ś The social context: Integration courses, family reunification... The mentor learns to decode the complex workings of migration.
📌 The cultural “mirror”: Become aware of our own codes - often invisible - to better understand those of others. How do you support someone whose background is different from ours?
đź“Ś The keys to the job market: Focus on jobs in shortage, the role of institutions (Actiris, Forem, VDAB, CPAS) and the resources available.
đź“Ś Active listening: ... or the art of not jumping on the first solution that comes up. What is really at play behind the words of the young person accompanied?
And for those who fear being forgotten: all resources remain accessible via an online platform, a real survival kit! throughout the support
The strength of a duo
On the last day, the theory is erased in the face of lived experience. Ramson and Jan, a duo in progress, came to testify. Ramson, a young marketer from Uganda, tells us about his difficult journey to find a job and the decisive role that Jan played alongside him.
For Max (71), a former shipbuilder, it was the trigger:
‍“Seeing that smile on their faces... It was the icing on the cake. The testimony of their complicity is the perfect example of why we are here.”
- Max, future mentor
From “the one who finds the solution” to “the one who guides”
This is often the biggest challenge for participants: learning not to want to “fix” everything right away. The mentor must accept that the mentee is in charge. More than immediate advice, it's listening and questioning that get things done.
Hillary (50), logistics manager in the port, leaves at peace: “A weight has gone away. Now I understand that how far you've come counts as much as the speed of the result. My role is to be a bridge, to help others gain autonomy.”
A collective human adventure
Beyond learning, it is the energy of the group that makes an impression. The training was not yet over and the participants were already asking for the creation of a WhatsApp group to stay connected.
Marleen (74), already very active in volunteering, concludes:
‍“This training gave me an incredible boost. Finding yourself between people who share the same values puts ideas back in place. I feel ready and can't wait to meet my future mentee.”
- Marleen, future mentor
Want to become a mentor?
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