"Peer Mentoring" initiative
As of March 2020, due to the pandemic and the changes in the regular development of the school year, we had to revise and modify the way in which we support the young people in our Scholarships Programme. After many coordinations, we were able to develop the initiative “Peer Mentoring”, through which our team was joined by 3 young people who are currently also benefiting from the programme as participants and an additional young person who has completed the programme. Alongside this new job as mentors, the 4 of them are either in the middle or are finishing their higher education.
Héctor Raúl, Marleni, Abelardo y Verónica were the 4 chosen out of a group of 8 young people who were interviewed by different team members and by participants of the Scholarships Programme. Given the mentors’ current or previous experience as participants in one or more of our programmes and projects, they are already familiarized with the methodology and are also able to support the team with their fresh and unique insights.
“I have participated in Amantani since I was in 5th grade (2009) and now I’m currently a part of Tiqsimuyta Riqsiy. (Meet My World)” – Verónica
The “Peer Mentoring” strategy connects each of the 4 mentors with 7 young people they must guide through the academic year. The mentor’s previous experience allows them to share their own difficulties, challenges and strategies developed during their own processes. The mentors will work 8 hours per week, in which they will have meetings with the team, focused on training and weekly reports, and meetings with the young people, focused on solving their academic inquiries.
For the mentors, this job serves as an internship that allows them to develop more professional skills whilst they continue or complete their own academic journeys.
“Eventually, I would like to work in environmental management, maybe with the institutions or NGOs that work towards protecting it, like the Ministry of Environment, the Regional Management of Environmental Health, the Institute of Environment, etc.” – Héctor Raúl.
Even though this initiative is relatively new, the goal is to continue with it over the following years, so that the new generations of young people entering the Scholarships Programme can have the support they need.