Mentoring provides meaningful connections and is rewarding for both the mentee and mentor. In this interview from a mentoring pair in Sweden, mentee, Benedicta, and mentor, Sandra, discuss the impact this relationship has had on both of their lives.
Sandra: I think it’s better to be a mentor as opposed to simply donating money. A mentor gets a lot back. You get a lot of joy and inspiration, and it’s great fun to be supportive to someone else and be able to give something back.
Benedicta: It has helped me in many ways. Before, I never really went anywhere; I was just at home. When I met Sandra, we started spending time together every other weekend doing things. It helped my confidence and made me happy.
Sandra: I think it was in December or January that we began to talk about going ice skating. She had never tried it, so we rented skates and a helmet for her and went for it. It was so much fun!
Benedicta (laughing): It was great fun because I could not do it!
Sandra: I think Mentor Sweden and mentors in general play a large role in a young person’s life. Increasingly young people do not have as much time with their parents, for whatever reason. I think it’s important for young people to have an additional adult to support them. It’s sometimes easier to confide in and discuss things that are difficult to do with someone else.
Benedicta: Sandra is the best person. In the beginning, I could only speak a little Swedish, but she helped me. I was a bit shit and could not talk in front of other people, but she gave me tips.
Sandra: It feels really nice that she has confidence in me, and that I can support her.
Benedicta: She has become a friend for life. She is always there. I will never forget her.
For more information on our mentoring programs in Sweden, visit mentor.se.