Youth Mentoring
Young women have always faced a myriad of challenges as they enter adulthood. This has never been more so than today. It is a noisy, fast-paced world : online social networking, cellphones, digital music, bebo, texting, tweeting... Youth today have a whole world of possibilities and choices spread in front of them - this is an exciting prospect, but one that can also be daunting.
Many young women need assistance to navigate their way through the teenage years. Mentoring fulfills this need. I am a skilled mentor and offer the opportunity for young women to meet with me in small groups or individually to help them create a positive proactive path for their lives. I connect well with young people and I act as an impartial life-coach, friend and inspirator.
The sessions are goal-focussed and progress is measureable and achievable.
Comments from the mother of a 19 year old Rachel mentored in 2009:
"I knew my daughter was not in a happy place and didn’t know what to do or say or where to turn. That’s when the answers to my prayers came true. I met Rachel and I instantly liked her and thought my daughter would too. We gently went to our first meeting, I was there for 10 minutes and then Rachel asked my daughter if she wanted me to stay or go, guess what, I was allowed to leave - wow. This was a big step for my daughter. She had seen a couple of other people over a couple of years and she really didn’t want to ‘do this again’. But Rachel was a hit in the first minute. When Rachel said we can meet her first to “see if you like me” and subsequent meetings could be where ever my daughter felt comfortable – it could be in the park, at our house or at her place. Wow, that was the first great impression and I could see the negative cloud lift a little. The second positive shift was when Rachel said “I could be your mentor” (not counsellor), that changed everything. So much so, that “my mentor” is spoken about to all our family and friends, it has turned out to be something my daughter is proud to talk about. You could have pushed me off my chair with a feather!
To cut a long story short, my gorgeous daughter has just flourished, she went from being so confused about where she wanted to be, what career she should be doing, where she should be living and being so self conscious, negative and having very little self esteem to a wonderful, confident, a tad assertive, happy and positive person.
I liken it to watching a wilted flower of great beauty that had not been able to see much sunlight; it hadn’t watered itself and wouldn’t let anyone else water it. Now my beautiful rose is strong and confident growing some thorns so she can’t be hurt if she doesn’t want to be. Rachel helped my rose water herself and allows others to water her too. The skills she has learnt and loved passing on is priceless. Thank you Rachel, I thoroughly recommend you to anyone, you have a marvellous way with the young to the old, you are so natural, caring and so easy to talk to."
If you feel you, or someone you know may benefit from my mentoring, please look at the document below for further information and contact me. If you are unsure about whether this is right for your child, read one mother's experience here.
| youth_mentoring.pdf |
