THE MENTORING PROGRAM

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 MDS’s one-on-one mentoring program is at the heart of our mission to empower young individuals through personalized support and guidance. This flagship initiative pairs young women over 18 years (mentees)  with experienced black professional women (mentors)  who provide tailored advice, encouragement, and resources to help them navigate personal, educational, and career challenges.

The one-on-one mentoring program offers a unique opportunity to build lasting mentor-mentee relationships centered around trust, growth, and mutual learning. Each pairing is carefully matched based on shared interests, career aspirations, and areas of desired development to ensure a meaningful and productive mentoring experience. We also offer the following alongside the mentoring session.

• Guest Speaker Events
• Skills Workshops
• Career Workshops
• Mentor Spotlights
• Mentee Spotlights
• TEDx Talk Presentations

The program runs for either six months or anually 

Our March Oral Presentation Development Sessions brought together 24 mentees for an inspiring learning experience. Through a mix of breakout‑room discussions, TED Talk insights, and guided reflection, mentees explored new ideas and transformed them into confident, clear oral presentations.

A total of 8 mentees presented, supported by 8 mentors who provided encouraging and constructive feedback. The sessions helped mentees sharpen their communication skills, build confidence, and practice expressing their ideas with clarity and purpose.

We are proud of their growth and look forward to even more impactful moments ahead.

 This workshop featured Francine Daley as well as other volunteer mentors. This will be a practical session with the aim to ground the participants holistically when it comes to their general wellbeing. 

Mentee feedbacks:

• " The workshop has enlightened me on the importance of having a healthy body by approaching health and well being in the most natural, physical and spiritual way."

• " I am grateful for the experience and their time, they are all amazing women and i hope they continue to inspire the next generation of young women " 

 This workshop featured 3 experienced mentors with expertise in different fields who shared their insights and experiences on building a career, career transitioning & use of social media and entrepreneurship. This was held on June 24, 2025, as part of our 2024/25 cohort's schedule. 

Mentee feedback;

• " I have learned that skills gained from past experiences can be valuable in a new career. I've also discovered that most people change careers 3 to 7 times, which has taught me to put less pressure on myself to choose the perfect job right now. Methods such as creating a skills matrix to identify my strengths, along with personal reflection, are equally important in helping me find a career that aligns with my values. "

 The "Stand Out, Not Burn Out" workshop, held on March 15, 2025, aimed to empower our mentees with strategies to manage stress, set healthy boundaries, and differentiate between high standards and perfectionism. The workshop was delivered online and included interactive sessions, breakout discussions, and action planning. 

Feedback: 

• "We thank them so much for sharing their knowledge, ideas, and time on how to deal with stressful situations. It has been very helpful to us since most of us go through stressful situations. I hope that through this knowledge we shall share it with others so that they can learn how to deal with stress now and in the future."  

Our mentee spotlight took place on 8th February 2025 with participants from both AKF and MADNow joining the session.  Agnes shared her mentoring journeys and successes as a mentee in 3 mentoring cohorts.

Some valuable insights mentees shared: 

•  "Failure shouldn't stop me from achieving my purpose, be motivated enough to re-strategize and try again. Finding a dedicated mentor is not easy, thus I feel motivated to make judicious use of this program "

This session is designed to connect mentees with experienced professionals in key industries to gain valuable insights, practical advice, and actionable tools to navigate their career paths successfully.

• Focus Areas: Learn from experts in IT, Finance, HR, Health, and Entrepreneurship about career opportunities, industry trends, and essential skills.
• Interactive Discussions: Engage in meaningful conversations with mentors, ask questions, and gain personalized advice.
• Networking Opportunities: Build connections with professionals and peers to expand your professional network.

Our mentor spotlight took place on 16th November 2024 with participants from both AKF and MADNow.  

Amanda shared her inspiring journey, highlighting resilience, trust, and the power of networks in achieving career success. 

• 100% (13 participants) found this session impactful and filled with actionable insights! 
• 54% (7 participants) noted Amanda’s challenges resonated strongly with their experiences.