Rhasheda Shepherd’s Post

We all know the story of that child who grew up in a tough neighbourhood. With limited resources and no clear direction, they find themselves drawn into a world of vices, illegal activities, and destructive behaviours. But everything changes when a local community organization connects them with a mentor who takes them under their wings. Education becomes that child’s way out. 📚 Through exposure to hands-on learning experiences, they discover new interests 🎓 They also receive mentorship and life skills training in the process, helping them rebuild their confidence and self-worth. 🚀 The child goes on to find purpose in using their hands and mind for something constructive. Now the child is an adult who is not just doing work they enjoy — they’re thriving, mentoring others, and breaking the cycle for the next generation.  This story which we have seen play out many times is proof that the right education is more than knowledge—it’s transformation. 💡 How many more young peopl’s lives could be transformed if they were given the right opportunities, guidance, and exposure to meaningful careers? Let’s commit to making purpose-driven education accessible to all—because when we give young minds something to build, they stop looking for something to destroy. 🔎 Do you know a story of someone whose life was turned around by education? Let’s celebrate them below! ⬇️ #PurposeDrivenEducation #BreakingTheCycle #MentorshipMatters #CareerReadiness #EducationForChange #FutureReadyYouth #TransformingLives

Understanding the challenges young people face is crucial. The impact of having a parent in prison on academic attainment can be significant. Our mentoring programme provides crucial support, breaking barriers for brighter futures. Join us at mcrpathways.org  #mentoring #volunteering #community #newdealforyoungpeople 

Profiles in cultural humility: Examining differences in openness to training and match length among volunteer mentors. Implications for Mentoring Programs: 💡 Integration of Cultural Humility Training: Programs will want to consider developing and implementing training programs focused on enhancing cultural humility among mentors, particularly those with lower initial awareness. 💡 Ongoing Support and Monitoring: Provide continuous support and monitoring to ensure that mentors maintain and develop cultural humility over time, potentially reducing early match terminations. https://lnkd.in/eDsvd2wE

“I didn’t know how much I knew”   I talked with a colleague this week who commented on an outside group doing something very different from what they had done before.   “They don’t know what they don’t know,” my colleague said with concern.   When doing something for the first time in a new area whether it is publishing, building a deck, or starting a new business, you can try to be prepared, but there are many things that are hard to anticipate. Working with coaches or people who have done the work before can be helpful, but you still are doing something you haven’t ever done. It’s possible to get into a situation where you are “in over your head.” Not only did you not anticipate the additional challenges, but they are beyond your capacity to handle.   I’m familiar with this paradigm and in teaching it is one that is on my mind. I want to create frameworks in students so that they can deal with new situations but instill a certain amount of cautious skepticism when working with complex care.   There is a flip side…   A former student who is now on an externship wrote to me this week. She said she is working in a classroom with children with a diverse set of disabilities who use different kinds of communication devices. She told me she applied information from my class last semester and said,   “I didn’t know how much I knew.”   I do remember feeling overwhelmed in graduate school. I felt aware of many things I didn’t know. I learned about potential problems with existing assessment instruments and exercises in critical thinking about treatment approaches sometimes left me with a focus on problems more than solutions. I have seen students get overwhelmed with complexity. They may become so aware of what they don’t know that they lack confidence in what they do know.   Overconfidence can be ignoring what you don’t know.   Underconfidence can be ignoring what you do know.   When you study an area and learn about its complexity, you learn about a lot of things that probably won’t work or have been proven not work. That doesn’t mean you don’t know anything or that no one knows anything. It means you won’t invest energy in things that aren’t a good use of your time. You can get down to the actual work of solving problems with your knowledge base. My former student recognized it this week.   That’s the nature of empowerment in learning.   What are your experiences with overconfidence and underconfidence? Image: @atiger stock.adobe.com Licensed

Understanding the challenges young people face is crucial. The impact of having a parent in prison on academic attainment can be significant. Our mentoring programme provides crucial support, breaking barriers for brighter futures. Join us at mcrpathways.org  #mentoring #volunteering #community #newdealforyoungpeople 

It’s Guidance Officer Week so we are profiling some of wonderful our guidance officers (GO) who support and guide our young people toward success. We recently caught up with Goodna GO, Jo McCabe. A lot of what Jo does in her role is around breaking down social barriers and encouraging and empowering diversity with respect and integrity. ‘GOs are integral to a school as we’re the eyes and ears that listen without judgement, and often act as the conduit between families and services. Initially I was drawn to working with neurodivergent students because I was thirsty for knowledge on the topic. The role of GO seemed like a natural progression after working as a learning support teacher, an Advisory Visiting Teacher (Inclusion), then a special education teacher, amongst other teaching roles,' Jo shared. While two days are never the same for Jo, she enjoys how the versatility of her role allows her to grow, learn and develop relationships. 'Being a GO is extremely rewarding; it truly is the gift that keeps giving. For me, a highlight has been acknowledging that the role of a GO opens your mind to different ways of being, of knowing. Being a part of a group, where you contribute and observe people as they grow and develop is a privilege and a joy. The whole concept of ‘equity and excellence’ where we contribute to something bigger as a community, is an extremely powerful and fulfilling lens to be looking and working through.' For anyone considering following in Jo’s footsteps, she’s got some fantastic advice. ‘You’ve got to be able to laugh, have a chat and turn off. Yes, you can be passionate and advocate and change the world, but at the end of the day, you have got to be able to go home and be present in the other roles in your life.’ For more information about what GOs do, visit: https://lnkd.in/dsMyZ4tZ #GuidanceOfficerWeek #GO #GuidenceOfficer #TeachQld

It is awesome that youth today have so many opportunities to find #mentorship that meets their needs. The National Quality Mentoring System importantly notes the following, though: “The tremendous growth in the youth mentoring field has resulted in an ever-expanding number of programs that provide choice, flexibility, and increased opportunities for young people who need mentors. However, the sheer number and variety of programs and approaches make it difficult for prospective mentors, parents, mentees, funders, and policymakers to know what constitutes a safe and effective mentoring program. The National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) creates recognized standards and procedures for the operation of high quality mentoring programs based on evidence and a process for continuous improvement within a program.” To be an #NQMS Gold Partner further affirms how necessary Empower Youth Network's program, Youth Success Mentoring, truly is.

Learning in We Lead is reinforced when shared experiences lead to action.Read more about our learning journey from our Our linking and learning lead: https://lnkd.in/gt_kHYW5 Kuira Mary Moses Okinyi The Constellation - Community Life Competence

The integration of education and mentorship for young adults has the potential to create a profound ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual. Education equips young adults with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the ability to innovate — empowering them to contribute positively to society. Meanwhile, mentorship fosters character development, ethical values, and a sense of purpose, guiding young adults to lead lives that reflect integrity and compassion. Together, these elements cultivate individuals who are not only well-informed but also morally grounded, ready to inspire change in their communities, neighborhoods, and families. #meaning #changetheworld #encouragement #relationship #difference #mentorshipmatters #mentorship #investing #youngadult #building #reachculture

Did you know that education is the most powerful tool for change? At Aspect Foundation, we’re on a mission to transform lives through education. Our programs focus on skill development, mentorship, and scholarships to empower children from all backgrounds. #PowerOfEducation #TransformLives #AspectFoundation #FutureLeaders #BridgingTraditionsBuildingTomorrow