Going The Extra Mile To Create The Perfect Match

Matching the right volunteer to the right young person is one of, if not the, most important parts of creating a successful partnership. When we say we go the extra mile to make sure each young person gets the perfect partner, we mean it!

As part of a programme with a Cambridge Housing Society we recently worked with five young people in need of extra support. Among them was a 20-year-old from Ukraine who had arrived in the UK two years ago with his father, displaced by the ongoing war. Though physically here, he felt deeply isolated. He no longer lived with his dad, struggled with his English, and described life as lonely and difficult.

It was clear that this struggling young man needed someone who could connect with him in his own language. Indeed, when we first reached out to him, he wasn’t even sure if the programme was real ! After using translation tools to write to him in Ukrainian he realised our intentions were genuine and quickly apologised, but this showed how important the language barrier was. We couldn’t rely on machine translation in lieu of a human connection.

Finding the Right Mentor

To provide meaningful support, we turned to our Cambridge mentors and asked if anyone spoke Ukrainian or knew someone who did. One mentor responded that she had a contact — a Ukrainian woman who had also moved to the UK about two years ago and now worked at Cambridge University.

When we reached out to this woman, she was warm and willing though uncertain about her availability. After reviewing the information and agreeing to volunteer, we began the  onboarding process, and her enthusiasm was immediate, sincere and clear for all of us to see! Once the process was complete, we matched the pair as soon as possible.

The First Connection

Within a week, the two were already talking and even arranged a video call. The bond was instant, and it was clear their shared origin made a massive difference. We checked in with both afterwards and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The young man expressed relief and excitement at finally being able to speak openly in his own language with someone who understood his journey. His mentor, in turn, felt motivated and committed to supporting him.

Early Signs of Progress

The young man currently works on a building site but has aims of pursuing something more, so his mentor is helping him to refine his CV and explore new opportunities. Socially, he is beginning to thrive too, making friends and recently being invited to a birthday party. These may seem like small things to most, but they are huge steps for a person who previously felt utterly adrift in a country that was alien to them.

“I am honoured to join the Goal17 mentoring network and happy to be matched with a Ukrainian mentee,” says our fantastic mentor.

“Having myself been through the challenge of settling in a new country, finding a job and friends, I know how difficult it is. I can’t wait to see the positive impact from boosting my mentee’s self-confidence and self-motivation, as well as his belief in the ability to achieve goals. Mentoring works both ways and the first contact with my mentee also helped me recognise my own expertise and diminish feelings of self-doubt.

I am excited to see where this journey will lead us and looking forward to celebrating every success, big or small.”

Mentoring is far, far more than simply throwing two people together and wishing them the best. We’re thrilled whenever our efforts in matching pay off so well and this story proves that, even when the perfect person isn’t immediately at hand, they might be just around the corner if you go looking. We can’t wait to hear about the pair’s success in the future!