THE MENTORING

Mentoring involves the development of a relationship in which somebody (the Mentor), usually a more experienced person, helps someone else (the Pupil), usually a less experienced person, to achieve something. This involves creating an informal and non-threatening environment in which the Pupil feels comfortable discussing their needs and concerns and the Mentor can provide help and encouragement.
Origin of the word: the English word Mentoring derives from the name Mentor of Greek origin. Mentor was an old friend of Ulysses and he protected and educated Ulysses son Telemachus. Acting as a mentor, Minerva set sail with Telemachus in search for his father. The meaning of mentor is therefore essentially linked to a father figure: a trustworthy and wise counselor. Mentoring is the activity of offering to and sharing advice with a young person, as a father will do, with no ulterior motives.
Definitions:

- “Mentoring is a one-to-one relationship between an expert (Mentor) and a novice (Pupil) and it lasts until the latter will have developed his/her full potential.” (Baum, 1992).

- "Mentoring is a deliberate pairing of a more skilled or experienced person with a lesser skilled or experienced one, with the agreed-upon goal of having the lesser skilled person grow and develop specific competencies." (Murray, 1991).

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THE E-MENTORING

Origin: Electronic Mentoring is a development of the traditional Mentoring. When combined Mentoring and modern communication tool, they create a brand new way to connect adults with young people. It is Mentoring via the internet

Definition: “E-Mentoring is a relationship that is established between a more senior individual (Mentor) and a lesser skilled or experienced individual (Pupil), primarily using electronic communications and is intended to develop and grow the skills, knowledge, confidence and cultural understanding of the Pupil to help him or her succeed.”( Boyle-Single, P. and Muller, C.B., no date).

E-Mentor: he is someone who has a desire to contribute voluntarily to the success of a young person and does so by offering friendship, acceptance and support.
Mentors have the opportunity to share their knowledge, experience, insight and to build trust and offer support to less experienced Pupils

What E-Mentoring offers E-Mentors:
- Sharpened leadership, interpersonal skills and personal development.
- Pride in knowing to help less experienced someone by offering study or work assistance.
- Personal satisfaction in accepting a challenge and meeting a goal.

What is a E-Mentor?
- Someone who takes responsibility for a fellow boy or girl and takes an interest in his or her development and well-being.
- Someone who shares his or her knowledge, skills, techniques and experience.
- A mentor discusses new ideas, perspectives and standards.
- Someone who offers support with patience and enthusiasm.
- A Mentor represents to the Pupil evidence of what they can become.

What makes a good E-Mentor?
- A good Mentor has a commitment to work with Pupils and help them determine and achieve goals.
- They show a willingness and ability to share knowledge and wisdom.
- They have adaptability, as a good Mentor recognizes that different people have different needs and strengths.
- A good Mentor is approachable, communicates openly and non-judgmentally.
- Good Mentors are accessible.

E-Pupil: he is a young boy or girl who seeks to improve skills of study and work related skills by corresponding with an E-Mentor.

What E-Mentoring offers E-Pupils:
- A means of gaining study assistance and vital one-to-one help from a more experience.
- A chance to maximise individual potential.
- A learning opportunity for both Pupils and Mentors.

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THE ROTARY E-MENTORING

Receivers (Tutors): the Rotarians.

Beneficiaries (Pupils): the Rotaractors.

Goals: professional orientation and assistance/help/support in the projection of an intended study path to develop a career or profession to enter or just entered.

Technical tools: Mentor and Pupil will need to have access to a computer and internet service. It is requested that a Messenger voice module is installed, preferably with Webcam and also the use of Skype.
The idea: this is like building a virtual airport, with control towers (the coordinators), information rooms and take-off and landing runways, allowing timely selected and coordinated teams of one Mentor/one pupil to set on a flight together.
These partnerships do take off and are duly registered with their flight plan, monitored through the radars (specific data charts) by specialists and advisors (even external ones) capable of providing qualified assistance as many times as needed, and then land at the end of their mission.

The Pupils: this E-Mentoring service will accept rotaractors in possession of a high school diploma or enrolled in a University, and willing to take advantage of a one-to-one consultancy by a Mentor, in relation to the professional stages they want to develop. When they join, an admission card is filled with the service coordinators and all the information is handled with utmost discretion and only released to the assigned Mentor. As soon as an available and ideal Mentor is located, coordinators submit the name and curriculum of the proposed Mentor to the pupil, and every time an agreement for a “positive encounter” is reached, Mentor and pupil are introduced. The partnership will therefore agree about the method and frequency of their future contacts. Pupils are requested to strictly adhere to the timing and method of contact agreed upon with their Mentors, and periodically share their impressions and experience by submitting a written report, or an e-mail. If considered to be deserving such benefits, Pupils will further be eligible to participate in other Rotary initiatives like RYLA, Youth Exchange, Study Groups Exchange, scholarships, etc.

The Mentors: volunteer rotarians with adequate professional experience in any of the activity sectors selected, will be admitted to the Mentor Register. They will have to be willing to follow-up and counsel on one or more Pupils in the service area, training them about the “maps”, “routes” and “instruments” for orientation. This advise will be strictly on a volunteer and free basis, and will have to follow rigorous deontological methods. The Rules of the service specifically prohibit any direct employment offer to the Pupil by the Mentor (part-time, practice, internship, etc), unless a particular dispensation is granted by the Control Committee, after evaluation of such a proposal submitted by Mentor and Pupil. Coordinators will be kept informed by Mentors about the developments of the service sending a “flight plan” data sheet. Active Mentors will have access to a password restricted data area allowing the sharing of their experiences and problems with other Mentors.
The Co-ordinators (“Control Tower”): create and administer Mentors and Pupils data bases; analyze demand and register Pupils in each e-group; select Mentor and Pupil partnerships; allow direct contact between Mentor and Pupil; follow-up each couple “in flight” (baggage) and assist the groups; decide over the eventual dispensation for a Mentor’s direct job employment offer to a Pupil.

Control Committee: eventual controversy (“unfavorable weather conditions”) during service will be resolved by a Control Committee designated by the Governor of the District 4200 Rotary International and formed by three rotarians of acknowledged experience and professional competence. If faced by serious transgressions to the Service Rules the Committee has the power to suspend and/or exclude Pupils and/or Mentors. Their decisions have no appeal.
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THE RULES

The Mentoring relationship is set far apart from job practice and internships. Once the professional orientation mission (“landing”) is finished, the Pupil will need to go through professional practice but will not need orientation. This is particularly stressed, as a relationship between Mentor and Pupil when the Pupil goes through practice is considered highly inadequate. Pupil runs the risk of over imposing work “visions” by his boss and Mentor

Frequency of messages:
- The frequency of the messages are left to each mentoring pair.
- It is expected that E-Mentoring will take less than an hour a week.

Mentors responsibilities:
- To read, sign and abide by the E-Mentoring agreement.
- Demonstrate a willingness to commit to the E-Mentoring process.
- Show willingness to email Pupils on a regular basis.
- As a Mentor, the onus is to instigate contact should it become infrequent.
- Mentors should respond within 2 working days to any e-mail messages sent by their Pupils.
- Give feedback to co-ordinators with the trimensual report.

Pupils responsibilities:
- To read, sign and abide by the E-Mentoring agreement.
- To be proactive in their student development by engaging with E-Mentoring.
- To participate in open and honest discussions with their Mentor.