Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third Sector organisations Dr. Cynthia Tomasuolo The Geminarie Group

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for
Third Sector organisationsDr. Cynthia
TomasuoloThe Geminarie Group
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• As part of the Activities of MIND.TS Project,
• The Geminarie Group organized an
• A Full Day Info-Training Course
• Date 5th March, 2011
• Location 604, St. Joseph High Road,
• Hamrun, Malta

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• MIND.TS
• INFO-TRAINING SEMINAR
• Agenda
• 08.45 09.00 Registration of Participants /
  Coffee Break
• 09.00 09.30 Introduction by Dr. Cynthia
  Tomasuolo on MIND.TS
• 09.30 10.30 Topic 1 What is Mentoring?
• An Introduction to Mentoring Speaker Ms.
  Cheryl Friggieri
• The Origins of Mentoring - A Brief History
• The Mentoring Relationship
• Mentoring Theories Approaches
• 10.30 10.45 Coffee Break
• 10.30 11.30 Team Building Exercise
  Coordinated by Dr. Cynthia Tomasuolo Ms. Nadine
  Spiteri
• Who is a mentor?
• Who is the mentee?
• What are the qualities of a good mentor / mentee?

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• MIND.TS
• INFO-TRAINING SEMINAR
• The Info-Training Course was open to
• 1. The members volunteers of the Geminarie
  Group
• And to the members and volunteers of two other
  associate organizations of the Geminarie Group,
  i.e.
• 2. The Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs
• 3. Margin Guiding Services

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Brief Description of Participating Organizations
• The Geminarie Group
• A Non-profit, Non-Governmental Voluntary
  Organization, founded in July 1996 since then,
  it always aimed to promote understanding and
  appreciation of the global community through
  exposure to social, political, historical,
  artistic, and cultural backgrounds
• The Organizations aims at creating research and
  training infrastructures in various areas
  including but not limited to the following
  fields humanities, social sciences, natural
  sciences, languages, business management and
  other fields of knowledge
• Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs
• An independent non-profit organization, which has
  been set up for the promotion of opportunities,
  awareness building, training and research in the
  field of Women Entrepreneurs and other gender
  issues
• The Foundation promotes guidance and training
  assistance to people involved in the provision of
  women-targeted services and also to members of
  their families in case of negative, traumatic or
  other similar effects arising out events
  connected to the performance of their duties
• Margin Guiding Services
• A Maltese registered partnership, founded in
  1995, specializing in Tourism, Culture and
  Commerce with the aim of providing a coalition of
  cultural services targeting amongst other things,
  the travel industry
• The partnership is dedicated to educate, preserve
  and foster cultural and historical values of the
  Maltese society for present and future
  generations. It aims to promote the advancement
  of cultural heritage to provide an organisation
  for the discussion and dissemination of cultural
  heritage information and ideas to convene
  meetings at regular intervals to publicize the
  need for the study and conservation of cultural
  heritage sites and collections and, to publicise
  the work of the organization. Margin Guiding
  Services also provides a forum for collaborative
  research, education, promotion and advocacy with
  the common goal of advancing the role of culture
  and heritage in the travel and tourism industry

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants in the Training Info-Day
• 1 Member from Each Organization
• 2 Volunteers from Each Organization
• The selection of the trainees was based on the
  participants educational background, training,
  and experiences in the organization as well as on
  the basis of answers / similar responses,
  provided in the MIND.TS pre-questionnaire,
  following a one-to one meeting with the Local
  MIND.TS Project Co-ordinator.

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
The Participants
Name Gender Age Organization Role Educational Background Employment
Marcelle Tomasuolo Dandria F 66 The Geminarie Group Member Tertiary Educational Tutor / Tourist Guide Retired
Christine Camilleri F 19 The Geminarie Group Volunteer Secondary Receptionist
Josef Borg M 24 The Geminarie Group Volunteer Post-Secondary Electrician

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
The Participants
Name Gender Age Organization Role Educational Background Employment
Lydia Zerafa F 38 Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs Member Tertiary Educational Teacher / Tutor
Lisa Sant F 34 Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs Volunteer Tertiary Education Bank Officer
Anita Camilleri F 21 Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs Volunteer Post-Secondary Tourist Guide

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
The Participants
Name Gender Age Organization Role Educational Background
Marco Tomasuolo M 59 Margin Guiding Services Member Tertiary Teacher / Tutor
Keith Camilleri M 34 Margin Guiding Services Volunteer Secondary Salesperson
Jesmond Zerafa M 24 Margin Guiding Services Volunteer Post-Secondary Health Care Aide

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
The Tutors / Trainers
Name Gender Age Educational Background Employment
Dr. Cynthia Tomasuolo F 31 Doctorate Level Advocate / Tutor
Ms. Nadine Spiteri F 35 Tertiary Level Teacher / Tutor
Ms. Cheryl Friggieri F 41 Tertiary Level Manager / Tutor
Mr. Louis Tomasuolo M 7 Tertiary Level Tutor Now Retired
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• The Info-Training Day covered some important
  aspects, such as..
• An Overview Of Mentoring, Introduction Brief
  History
• What is Mentoring?
• The Mentoring Approaches
• The Mentoring Relationship
• Implementing a mentoring system

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Team Building Activities
• Exercises were used to
• stimulate reflection and discussion
• and enhance the learning process

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to..
• Describe their hopes and expectations about the
  training .

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Some answers
• can help me focus on improving performance and
  developing/enhancing my skills..
• enhance my coaching and mentoring skills
• hope to share relevant knowledge and
  experiences
• experience in networking
• finding possible Communication mechanisms 
  within the Mentoring Relationship
• to discuss issues in a specific, descriptive,
  non-judgmental manner

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to define MENTORING..
• Some answers
• a relationship between the mentor and the mentee
  that encourages growth development.
• a process in which the mentor serves as a role
  model a teacher and provides opportunities for
  development, growth, and support to less
  experienced individual..

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to define the MENTORING
  RELATIONSHIP..
• Some answers
• passing on of knowledge by a more experienced,
  possibly older person, to a less experienced
  one
• a one-to-one relationship based on trust..
• providing guidance and objective support through
  communication understanding

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to identify
• Who (if any) has been a mentor to them? How?
• Was it a positive experience? Why?

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Some answers
• my father was my mentor, he helped
  me to increase my confidence in business
  decision-making..
• X, my friend was my mentorhe really motivated
  me to do better and to be better, he helped me
  cope with change..
• my family and friends were always there to help
  however, throughout my work, I did not have a
  mentor, and that is something that I feel I
  really missed out on because it was hard figuring
  things out on my own

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to define a Mentor
• a person who commands a certain degree of
  respect, either by holding a higher-level
  position, or because of age or experience..
• a trusted counselor or guideusually an older,
  more experienced individual
• an individual who is able to clear your doubts
  and gently, but firmly pushes you in the right
  direction...
• a person who shares experiences with you and
  assists you to achieve your goal

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to define a Mentee
• a person who is advised, trained, or counseled
  by a more experienced individual
• a person who learns from the education imparted
  to him by his mentor and seeks help from
  him/her
• usually, a mentee is a young person, who needs
  advise and support to maximize his/her
  potential
• a person who has a need to achieve

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to identify the QUALITIES
  of a Mentor

• Honest
• Recognize potential
• Accepting
• Affirming
• Supportive / Motivating
• Understanding
• Encouraging
• Sense of humor

• Available / Genuinely Interested
• Maturity
• Positive
• Good listener
• Willing to share own experiences
• Challenging / Questioning
• Giving feedback

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to identify the QUALITIES
  of a Mentee
• Asks questions
• Willing to be mentored
• Strives to give his/her best at all times
• Accepts positive criticism
• Learns from mistakes
• Accepts responsibilities
• Open
• Listens, learns, grows!!

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Participants were asked to identify
• The benefits (if any) of Mentoring in their
  respective organization
• Some answers
• better trained staff..
• a positive orientation to learning..
• help develop professional network
• no mentoring programme in place but I think it
  can help Effective management development
• life-long help with professional advancement
• practice for being good mentors to others..

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• General Feedback on the Training Programme

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• ..provided new insights know-how
• ..reinforced my previous learning on mentoring
• participating in the mentoring training
  programme was a very positive experience for me
• it was especially helpful and encouraging to
  share experiences with others
• very positive, practical focused

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• from my participation, I only hope that I can
  make my mentees experience as enjoyable as
  mine
• .it gave me a new perspective on myself and the
  role I currently have..

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Feedback on the Evaluation Form

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
Table 1 General Assessment of the Info-Training
Course
Partners gave well mark for the general
assessment of the Info-Training Course. Note
the participants gave lower marks for the Timing
Logistics of the Info-Training Course
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
Table 2 General Assessment of the
Modules Introduction to Mentoring
Participants gave very high marks to the
Usefulness and Relevance of the Module but
they gave low marks to the Timing (3.66)
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
Table 2 General Assessment of the Modules Learn
about Mentoring
Note Timing received constant low marks (3.77)
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations
Table 2 General Assessment of the
Modules Transfer the Knowledge into practice
Participants gave low marks to the Timing
(3.44), but all partners gave high marks to
Usefulness, Interest and Relevance (4.22
respectively)
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Table 3 Suggestions for Improvements
• All participants
• agreed that the number of participants was
  appropriate and should be limited to a maximum
  number of twelve.

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Table 3 Suggestions for Improvements
• Was the whole duration of the Info-Training
  Course appropriate?

The majority of the participants stated that the
duration was limited Suggestions Spread over a
two-day programme
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Table 3 Suggestions for Improvements
• Homogeneous or Heterogeneous Groups?

The majority of the participants stated that the
group should, when possible be heterogeneous the
main reason being that participants get to share,
and learn from each other it is viewed as being
an enhancer for team-work because everyone learns
from everyone else!
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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Some General Reflections on the Training
  Programme.

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• Important to provide practical guidelines for
  both mentors and mentees
• To emphasise that mentoring is essentially
  experience-based learning to which reflection is
  central
• To help especially leaders see the broad
  possibilities for mentoring

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Mentoring as vocatIonal trainiNg methoD for Third
Sector organisations

• I've learned that people will forget what you
  said, people will forget what you did, but people
  will never forget how you made them feel.
• Thank you for your attention!!