Opening Doors: Mentoring Helps Bridge the Gap between Talents and Opportunities for Displaced Students

The OSUN Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives, operating in Eastern Africa, the MENA region, South Asia, and South East Asia, is collaborating with Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) to bridge the gap between students’ talents and opportunities by offering mentorship programs that help them develop skills and gain confidence so they can achieve their career goals. The educational support initiative partners with Hubs to employ digital and in-person resources that empower underrepresented young professionals from diverse and displaced communities. A key element is connecting individuals with experienced mentors who can guide them in their personal and professional growth.
 
Jonas Balugurha Ndatabaye, one of 15 students from the Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives who recently completed the program, says, "This experience has been a significant milestone in my professional journey, equipping me with the skills and confidence to take the next steps in my career." He says highlights of the mentorship program include valuable opportunities to network and the chance to build long-lasting relationships with global leaders who act as GMI-assigned mentors.

GMI engages 7,000 professionals from 127 countries who help provide a “mentorship pathway”—a structured curriculum that is adapted for each unique combination of student and mentor. The free 12-week program allows mentorship pairs to interact with each other organically, fostering a true human connection. The program has assisted over 10,000 individuals across Africa, Asia, Latin and North America, the Caribbean, the MENA region, and Europe. The Hubs is just one of over 130 international organizations and universities collaborating with GMI. 

Ndatabaye says the mentorship was transformative for him and recommends it to anyone looking to boost their confidence, build meaningful relationships, and in his case, enhance their digital portfolio. Originally from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and living in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp since 2017, Ndatabaye describes himself as a lifelong learner, dedicated graphic designer, fashion designer, and UI/UX enthusiast. The mentorship program was, for him, “a way to ace market-trending best practices and skills and an opportunity to learn LinkedIn job-hunting techniques.” The 12-week sessions also helped him build professional skills that include: networking, SMART goals, business communication, and interviewing best practices. He hopes to apply all these to a growing career in freelance graphic and fashion design. 

“Through this experience, I refined my skills in visual storytelling, user-centered design, and digital branding,” he says. He has already used some of the skills he acquired through the mentorship to rebuild and grow his civic engagement project on fashion design, where he trains out-of-school girls in rural Turkana County in Northern Kenya on the basics of fashion design. As directed mentorship has assisted Ndatabaye in growing the skills he needs to advance his career, he is using those same skills to help open doors for the next generation of young professionals to succeed.

Post Date: 02-28-2025