
Meet Alicia!
Alicia began mentoring with us in 2020, and has mentored two young people with us.
What do you do for work?
I’m currently a student studying the Bar Course at City Law School.
What do you get up to when you’re not working or volunteering?
I love reading and travelling. My favourite author is Kazuo Ishiguro. And I also love visiting new places to discover their cultural and gastronomic wonders.
What motivated you to become a volunteer mentor at Hope for the Young?
Well, it was the stories of other mentors who helped those youths in need. It brought tears to my eyes and I thought volunteering as a mentor really does make a significant difference.
What’s your favourite memory from mentoring?
I remember one of my mentees said he found me helpful and supportive before we took a photo and said our goodbyes at the end of our mentoring relationship. I felt it was a really fulfilling and rewarding experience for me.
What have you learned from volunteering as a mentor to a young person seeking asylum?
I have learned how to advocate for another person and other soft skills, such as keeping information confidential and cooperating with coordinators to help young refugees and asylum-seekers.
What tips would you give to other volunteer mentors?
Personally, I recommend setting short-term goals for you and your mentee, then sorting out the order of priority in which you aim to tackle them. I benefited greatly by planning ahead and staying organised.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to Alicia for volunteering as a mentor with us.
If you’d like to become a volunteer mentor like Alicia, click the button below to find out more and apply!