I had no interest in talking to someone am not related to about my struggles. I just did not feel safe and therefore I saw no need to be mentored. But all this changed when I joined Work Experience Mentor-ship Academy (WEMA) and realized that mentoring, at its core, guarantees me and other young people that there is someone who cares about me, assures me am not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes me feel like I matter. The relationship between my mentor and I is not the parent-child like because it has a positive effect on me in professional situations. Ultimately mentoring connects me to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet in Kenya many youths grow up without this asset. My mentorship journey has made me realize that mentoring can help youth as they go through challenging life transitions, including dealing with stressful changes at home, making decisions career wise or transitioning to adulthood. Close, healthy, supportive relationships between mentors and mentees that last for a significant portion of time (i.e., more than one year) are central to success and help you as a youth to overcome the fears you have. In this world where technology is the order of the day there is still some knowledge that can only be gained through experience and who better to give it than a mentor. I am becoming a better person each day just because of the kindness and willingness of my mentor to share her own experience and wisdom, which I am so grateful.
By Ebby