Salma Share: Being Mentor of Algerian tomorrow’s leaders

Hanane KAOUANE is an electrical and electronic engineering, graduated with Master 2 from the Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineering (IGEE ex: Inelec). She accumulated more than seven years of experience in the youth development industry, where her experiences in the associative field and in social entrepreneurship have allowed her to secure a place at the Algerian Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSE) since 2016, as coordinator of "Impact@Work"the first program dedicated to the promotion of social entrepreneurship. Hanane is now the community builder at the first and the only social incubator in Algeria, ACSE UP and the producer for “BINE OU BINE” podcast; the first Algerian podcast 100% in “derja” that aims to inspire youth to go through social entrepreneurship. Hanane is also debating volunteer coach at the British Council in the frame of "Young Mediterranean Voices" program and a personal development mentor in AYLP Nevada, USA 2018. In addition, Hanane is a team building activities' trainer through her participation in the "universities on youth development 2016” program in Spain.

Algerian Youth Leadership Program (AYLP) is an exchange program of 4 weeks in USA for Algerian high school students focused on civic education, diversity & inclusion, leadership, and community engagement.

Why did you choose to be a mentor in AYLP ?

Doctor Todd felt, Assistant Professor and Strategic Communication at the Reynolds schools of Journalism, Nevada always told us that: “There are only two places where a leader can act: on a balcony or in the dance floor.”

When being in the dance floor; you engage yourself the same way physically, emotionally and socially all at once. Where the symbiosis of dancers’ bodies and the expression created through movement captivates many of us. It can help dancers simply connect to the world around them when they otherwise don’t know how. When in the dance floor, you make connection, with yourself, with your soul and with the persons around you, you even might makes them follow your movements while they are feeling free! Actually this is what the champion of dance used to do in the dance floor! From this quote I notice that, a leader is a person who influences a group of people towards the achievement of a goal. But a great leader inspires confidence in other people and moves them to action.

However, a leader is not always making people following him/her, sometimes he/she must leave the dance floor and watch people from the balcony. Follow others on their decisions, their choices and only be in the floor when it needed. This actually what a mentor exist for.

I have chosen to be a mentor on the AYLP program for only two reasons. The first one is presented in my first paragraph, which is my opportunity to be in the dance floor and contribute on building new leaders by creating for them a community where they can clear their ethics, values and vision. Secondly, is to turn those leaders into brilliant changemakers by standing in the balcony and watching them explore.

As a mentor ,what were your duties ?

Mentorships typically involve a mentor and mentees, with clearly defined roles. A mentor is defined as a “wise and trusted counselor or teacher.” Mentoring consists of a long-term relationship focused on supporting the growth and development of the mentee. The mentor becomes a source of wisdom, teaching, and support and can play a significant role in an individual’s personal, social and professional development.

When being a mentor on the AYLP program, I engeded all my energy in checking, supervising, watching, and keeping track of. First off all, I used to listen to my mentees, understand their personalities and identify their needs.

Then, I used to provide mentees by advices based on personal experiences and act as a sounding board for ideas and action plans. In addition to giving guidance and identify resources that will help them with personal development and growth, such as recommending books, workshops, inspirational talks and other learning tools.

I used also to encourage my participants to join networking organizations and introducing them to new contacts. One more point is to provide the tough feedback that mentees need to hear in order to move forward; to push them to take risks when appropriate; to help them to consider and weigh potential consequences of decisions and actions to avoid the pitfalls and predictable surprises that may occur.

Mentees need to be heard giving them your attention and your time play a big role on their personal evolution. But also leading by example is one of the main responsibilities as a mentor, to be a role model, to be the kind of person that everyone else looks up to and wants to be like. But always keep in mind – even when no one is watching – everyone is watching.

What kind of challenges did you meet?

Being in a another country with 25 Algerian energetic youth aged between 15 and 17 years old for a long period of time is never something easy but it is challenging and scared sometimes. While taking care of a toddler seems challenging and sometimes scaring. But in fact, having as a main responsibility taking care of a group of smart teenagers is more terrifying ! “terrifying” in this part is something positive, How?! Youth at the age of 15 years old are so smart and intelligent and their intelligence was part of my challenges . Let me explain that!

When you are a mentor, you have some duties and responsibilities that you need to respect them such as giving advices and feedbacks. So the main challenge I was facing is how should I give them my advices and feedbacks ? Should I need to keep asking them questions till they find the answer them selves? or I should keep giving them personal experiences?

I used to share with them my personal experiences as a way of mentoring by example but in this life we all part of a different games, Which means it is not necessary that we all play the game with same method. Sometimes when I notice that a mentee didn’t listen to my advice, I start being nervous and worried about the method I give my advices and feedbacks. And thinking about the way I can improved it.

What did you learn from this experience?

Adolescence is a critical step of human growth. It is the process of development from childhood to adulthood. Adolescents experience a significant shift from the simple, concrete, and global self-descriptions typical of young children; to a person based on their values, thoughts, and opinions.

For this reason, giving advices and feedback something so complecated because teenegars in that age need to make their decisions by themselves but you as a mentor or as an adult you need to make sure that they are not hurting themselves with those decisions. Basing and taking this important point into consideration during my experience in the AYLP, I learn how to react differently.

So, Instead of telling my mentees what to do, I learn how to give them something to think about. By this method gaining their trust, respect and love was an achievement.

What is the added value of mentoring as mentor in your career and life?

When you invest in youth, in their personal development and others, you are not only investing in them, but you are also investing in yourself. Mentoring will contribute in your personal development , your managing skills, your empathy and optimism. .

Investing in something or someone was always taking me much time to see its fruits and feel it. But investing my energy, my time, my knowledge on my mentees; AYLP 2018 participants; was and still something that made me see the results so fast. I saw and I keep seeing this results on their projects, studies , daily life, I can see the results on their succeed. With what they achieved till now, I am seeing little Hanane in everyone of them and I am just feeling proud that my mentees are going to appear in the next generations as real change makers.

As the last word, I would like to say that I am proud of being part of my TEAMILY! AYLP2018 because what I learned from each one in this program, was needed a million of experiences.

I was honored to work with Hanane on Tawjih Mentoring Program :)

Today I feel inspired to read her story like you and share it on my blog Salma Share :)

We believe that mentoring is a powerful tool of learning that’s why we invite you to know what is it and why not implement it in your daily and professional life because being mentor or mentee is a life changing experience J

If you’re interested in Algerian Youth Leadership Program 2020

Apply as :

*Participants 15-17 years old

Algerian Youth Participant Application

And follow Mohamed Foudil 's story on Salma Share