The Tandem Mentor Programme aims to support the social participation of people with disabilities through one-to-one mentoring.
In the framework of our pilot project, volunteer mentors participated in a Jamba workshop to support mentors with disabilities to achieve their individual goals in a responsible and prepared way. In this way, they have contributed to the professional and personal fulfilment of the mentored people and to a more accessible and inclusive society. Mentored people were matched with mentors who could effectively support them through regular mentor-mentee meetings, based on their individual skills and personality.
Why is it important?
In addition to career support, people with disabilities often need life skills counselling, and in many cases they need to develop existing and new skills, and increase their confidence and motivation. The mentors developed the social and communication skills, self-confidence and motivation of the mentored. In this way, they increased their chances of success in the labour market, contributed to their social inclusion, reduced their isolation during the Covid period and contributed to achieving individual goals such as further education, finding a job in the open labour market or getting a new job.
What is special about it?
The Tandem Mentor Programme, which provides individual mentoring, is a unique service for people with disabilities in Hungary today. To support as many Jambas as possible, we have developed special mentor training. The programme trains volunteer professionals to become useful individual advocates for people with disabilities. To this end, we have developed a specific training methodology to help volunteers learn how to prepare, motivate and help Jambés to succeed in employment. The key pillars of participation in the programme are individual attention, creativity, empathy and responsibility.
What achievements has the programme made in the lives of the mentored?
- “I was able to stay in the new job. I have more confidence and a better understanding of my abilities.”
- “I managed to get a job:)”
- “I am stronger!”
- “That we have achieved our goal and beyond! 🙂
- “A perfect CV.”
- “I outlined my options and started a course.”
How was it particularly useful?
- “Dealing with job-related anxiety.”
- “Effective communication development (Assertive Communication), I can now write better CVs and cover letters.”
- “For me, it has helped me to be stronger and to do my job with even better skills!”
- “Even if something seems difficult at first, never give up!”
- “CV writing.”
- “Looking for opportunities.”
The programme has directly contributed to the integration of people with disabilities into the labour market, making them active economic actors. Finally, by involving the volunteers, the project has achieved a positive social impact, working with the Jambas has led to a positive attitude change in the mentors’ environment.
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The implementation of the project was supported by the NSZI and the Ministry of Human Resources in the framework of the FOF2020 grant, and we would like to thank them for their support.
