:::: Katalyst ::::

The Katalyst Mentorship Program

Mentor a Student

Introduction

Existing Mentors

The Katalyst mentor program is an effort towards providing our selected students from less privileged backgrounds with the opportunity to interact with mature, successful individuals from various professional fields. We believe that one of the most important differentiating factors between our girls and those from a more privileged background is the exposure to new experiences and the lack of a competent role model. The program thus enables our girls to receive support and guidance from individuals outside their communities and provides them with exposure to a new set of experiences and perspectives.

The Katalyst Mentorship Program Objectives

This program aims to address four main areas for every Katalyst student:

1. Personality Development
An important aspect of all-round development is personality development. Personality development would include the broad spectrum of various aspects like self confidence, self-awareness, positive outlook and communication skills. Many of these aspects are learnt through socializing with different people in diverse environments. Today many students are looking for ‘courses’ which will teach them to have a good personality. Katalyst believes that it is important for our students to go beyond such courses and interact with people and the world outside. Few of the specific aspects are:

Improving basic social skills and etiquette. The mentor is expected to set an example, so the mentee can learn through interaction and observation.
Exposure to new and varied experiences and perspectives. The mentor could introduce the mentee to new experiences and people.
Inculcating values of responsibility and diligence through dialogue and experience sharing.
Developing language and communication skills through dialogue and interaction.

2. Academic Support
All our students are academically very bright and intelligent. Given this background, we would also like to say that many of them need support and encouragement to remain consistent. We expect the mentorship program to give them the encouragement and support to excel in their academics. The mentor would be responsible for advising the students on the need and benefits of higher education and clearly articulating how this will enable them to get better jobs, and eventually succeed in life. Few concrete aspects that the mentorship program will influence are:

Assist in inculcating strong study skills, effective study and time management plan.
Developing responsible self study habits
Providing tactical academic support on specific topics to help the student perform better.
Motivate the students constantly to perform well.

3. Individual Support
The mentorship program is based on the relationship built between the mentor and the mentee. Most of our students may not have adequate support and guidance from their friends, family and community. As a mentor we would expect you to be a role model, a trusted friend and a guide to the student. Many of our students face challenges in their day to day lives which they may not be willing to share with everybody. They need someone they can trust and depend on for guidance. The relationship between the mentor and mentee plays an important role in situations like this. We would expect the mentor to:

Build the relationship based on trust and good will.
Meet the students once a week for an hour.
Understand the student’s hopes, aspirations, needs, issues, challenges, strengths and weaknesses.
Share personal experiences and life learning’s.

4. Career guidance and support
Many of our students are first generation learners and do not have the necessary kind of guidance and support to make career oriented decisions. This program aims at helping the students make a well informed choice on their future careers. To our student, the mentor will be the person with who she can discuss her career aspirations with. :

Discuss the student’s career aspirations.
Provide the student with accurate information based on interest and aspiration.
Provide the student with necessary exposure to help make a well informed decision.

You can be a Mentor if you

Have a desire to help: Individuals who are interested in and willing to help others.
Are a successful achiever.
Have the time: Individuals who can make time and in their busy lives to devote to this relationship.
Are an individual who is still willing and able to learn and who sees the potential benefits of a mentoring relationship.
Have demonstrated effective managerial skills.
Are double qualified and have a minimum of 5 years of experience.

The Mentors Role

Being a good Mentor is a challenging task. Here are a few points to help you understand your role better:

Be a Role Model
	At all times try to serve as an example for social skills and responsible behavior. Give the mentee necessary exposure to prepare her to face a professional life. Share your life’s learning’s with the mentee. Help your mentee see who you truly are – a successful individual. Help the mentee set aspirations for who they want to be.
Be a friend and confidante
	Encourage the student to share her day to day life with you. Be someone the student trusts. Give honest and sincere appreciation and advice. If the need arises, be someone, who the student would discuss personal problems with.
Be a teacher and guide
	Impart study skills and help with difficult concepts. Encourage and support the student to think about their future. Encourage the student to take extra classes / inputs whenever necessary.

Expectations and Guidelines

Mentors are required to make a commitment of at least one year to the program.
Mentors are expected to meet/speak with the mentees for an hour every week.
Incase the mentor has to cancel the interaction; he/she has to inform the mentee and Katalyst beforehand.
Mentors are expected to be on time for the sessions. The mentors and mentees can together decide on a mutually convenient time for the meeting.
Mentors must plan their sessions and keep a track of the mentees progress, needs, and concerns and share this with Katalyst regularly.
Mentors must be respectful and considerate with the mentees. At no situation should the mentee feel hurt or snubbed.
Mentors must set realistic expectations from their mentees. Celebrate every achievement however small it is, and not rebuke if the mentee does not live up to the mentors set expectations.
Mentors can ask for any kind of help they need from Katalyst for the mentees benefit.
Mentors are urged to keep in mind that this is a mutual relationship, where both the mentors and mentees will learn and grow together.

NOTE: Katalyst reserves the right to terminate the relationship if the program guidelines are not being followed.