myexchangeleeuwarden-blog

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

“What do you think young professionals need to feel included in the workspace?”

Last week BDF and Inqubator invited us, as interns of MentorProgramma Friesland, to do a workshop for 25 international guests about social inclusion and mentoring for interns or young professionals in a company.

The keywords of our message were: supportiveness, room to learn from mistakes, an open and positive atmosphere, good coaching, autonomy and room for personal development. 

But before explaining our audience this concept, we asked them the main question. We were happy to see that the majority was on our same page, even if we could clearly see their different perspective. Many older professionals still see the intern as an ‘helper’ for whatever needs to be done, they usually prepare a to do list without asking what the young professional would like to learn. 

Mentoring can become a ‘spirit’, a ‘mindset’ in a company, in order to suit the real need of young professionals. This was our final message!

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How can we motivate MBO students to a mentoring programme?

On June 4th 2019 we had a meeting with Anja van den Einden at ROC Midden Nederland in Utrecht. ROC Midden Nederland is a school with over 25.000 students. The majority of the students have more than one cultural background with mostly Moroccan and Syrian roots. 

These students mostly start with a Level 2 education and are likely to drop out of school after the first year of their apprenticeship. In order to prevent that, Anja van den Einden developed the Junior Job Coach project. The project links Level 4 students as Job Coaches to Level 2 students. The Junior Job Coaches support the Level 2 students throughout their apprenticeship and they are constantly in contact with each other over WhatsApp.

The strongest success factor of the programme is the practical spirit: these students need a clear structure, in fact they usually struggle with open conversations and free activities, so it is easier to have a concrete goal such as supporting students in their first apprenticeship, a handy tool like Whatsapp to communicate.

She also recognizes the power of the ‘right chemistry’ between the two teenagers. This is essential for teenagers: they often show insecurity about themselves and interpersonal relationships, so feeling comfortable with each other is the first step. In any case, starting to communicate trough Whatsapp breaks the ice!

The results of Junior Praktijk Opleiders keep increasing at the point that several similar programmes has been started in other schools in The Netherlands and Erasmus+ created a funding for programmes like this in all Europe! Let’s see what this new strategy is going to add to the mentoring field in Europe.

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

21st Century Skills

On 10 June 2016, the European Commission adopted a new Skills Agenda for Europe. The aim is to make the most of human capital, which will boost development in Europe. These skills are the key to fulfil people’s potential as confident, active citizens. 

Improving soft skills is a strong point of your training, especially in an European framework! You need to be originial and unique in what you can do, creative in your ideas, innovative in your tecniques. On the other hand, you will work and connect with very different people, which means that everybody needs a common ground and shared goals. 

This are our 21st Centruy Skills, basing on our experience, we selected the factors of success in an European environment.

ME&MYSELF: proactivity, self-confidence , challenge, personal leadership 

ME&PROFESSIONALS: reliability, presentation, networking, problem-solving 

ME&SOCIAL: teamwork, empathy, group leadership, feedbacks

ME&WORLD: diversity, flexibility, innovation, social responsibility 

If you wan tot know more about the 21st Centruy Skills

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Fixed mindset VS Growth mindset

"Are you stuck or proactive?"

Spending a lot of time with secondary school students I see myself a few years ago. I see their struggle to find their interests and their dreams. "I don't really like what I'm studying, I will just take the first job and sit behind a computer" "I don't think it's possible to wake up and be happy to go to work".

With some activities we try to stimulate their imagination and their optimism about the future. We show them how many opportunities they have, where they can look for new passions. We switch together from a fixed to a growth mindset.

But then, the hard part comes. "How do I get there?" And then The Answer: "So guys, have you ever heard about mentoring?"

Creating 'mentoring moments' to support students, so they can feel passionate and make the best of themselves!

#fixedmindset #growthmindset #proactivity #dreams

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Everybody works a little bit for the social field

When you work in the social field, your career it’s part of a bigger project aimed at helping and supporting people and communities. This is the new way of “society development”! Taking care of the people instead of objects, investing in services and assistance are essential for future growth.

Even business is starting redefine the meaning of development and productivity, shifting from results to social impact.

I’m very passionate about TED’s talks, click on the titles for some inspiring Ted's!

“To solve the world’s biggest problems, invest in women and girls” Musimbi Kanyoro. She introduces the Marangoli concept of “ISIRIKA”: a pragmatic lifestyle that cherishes the mutual responsibility to care one for another.

“The business benefits of doing good” Wendy Woods. She stresses the concept of “TOTAL SOCIETAL IMPACT”: business has to assess its good impact on society and follow this lead for its development.

“The case for letting business solve social problems” Michael Porter. He believes in the power of business in solving today challenges, because they can make a profit from it and help the solution grow.

“4 ways to build a human company in the age of machines” Tim Leberect. He invented the so called “BUSINESS ROMANTIC”: setting up business on authenticity and people, instead on productivity and results.

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Feedbacks for Development

During my last meeting with the Community Manager I asked for feedbacks on my professional development and she pointed out some aspects of my behaviour at work. 

“Elena, you do your best when your work with people!”

Working in a social entrepreneurship means that you are in continuos contact with people: it can be a group meeting, a presentation or a workshop, a face-to-face conversation, a formal or informal activity. I started with my natural curiosity and interest in people, but now I am developing my cooperation and communication skills also in a work environment.

“ And you need dynamics and challenging situations.”

My job here requires to work with many projects at the same time, to switch from a situation to another, to interact with different target groups. Plus, we often start pilots projects and innovative ideas, which means that you don’t have any script to follow, but you need flexiblity and proactivity.

“You should keep working on your people management skills”

But this is for another time.

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Inspiring and be inspired

As a student and intern I often look for inspiration in my co-workers and in other professionals. But now, I am leading a pilot project with the help of a few collegues and our aim is to inspire VET students to be curious about their Region but also about other Countries. It's called "Internationalization at Home"

On one hand, they are going to chose a topic between sustainability, social inclusion, healthy living and social entrepreneurship, then they will do some research about it and interview a local professional who is working in the field.

This way they will have the chance to explore an interesting topic, approach a professionals, get inspired by their stories, know more about the opportunities in their regions.

On the other hand, they will present their findings during a Skype meeting with European partners, so they are going to start a discussion about these 4 topics, share information, make comparisons between different countries.

Doing this, we stimulate them to curiosity and open-mindedness, to be more concious about their own local culture, but also more informed about what are the 'hot topics' in other European regions.

Work in progress! Let's wait for the results!

#growing #inspiring #beinspired #future

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Enterpreneurial Dutchies

During these months in the Netherlands I learnt many lessons, but the biggest one is the "go for it" spirit of Dutch people! I really admire their enterpreneurial thinking.

First of all, they are very optimistic about their possibilities. You easly find them looking around and seeing opportunities of starting something. Like J., 23, he went to Australia to work and travel and he was living in an hostel: after a few days he realised that people didn't have much time to cook themselves dinner, so he started to bake pizza every night as a side job! "I made doble of the profit and I even bought a car" he said.

Also, they are always questioning how something can be done better, how it can be more efficient. They comment on the organisation in a restaurant, the layout of a booklet, the opening hours of a supermarket (real conversations). Mark Twain once said: "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.". Mark Twain was probably Dutch.

Above all, they execute. They don't wait for the "I invented Facebook" idea, they just stick to real opportunities around them, they realize things step by step. They go crazy for 4 things: plans, deadlines, feedbacks, results. It may seem a robot mindset, but it's actually proactivity and entrepreneurship.

#enterpreneurship #proactivity #optimism #productivity

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Discovering another culture is fascinating. Asking about traditions and habits, visiting different regions, talking with young and old people. It's all part of picturing this new world in your mind.

And at one point you find yourself feeling part of it.

You try to learn dutch, you dress in orange for Koningsdag (King's Day), you remain quiet for 2 minuts on the 4th of May for the victims of the war.

You just PARTICIPATE.

#liberationday #Netherlands #5May

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Workshop, magic workshop

We are a social entrepreneurship, so we create events, programmes and opportunities for people, depending on what they need. During our actions, one of our favourite tool is the WORKSHOP! 

A workshop’s aim is to send a message not only with a presentation, but also involving the audience in short activities, games, discussions. The key words are interactive, creative, stimulating!

I never heard about it before coming here, but now I am discovering how effective is in reaching to people, because participants are involved in first person, they can ‘experience’ the topic.

But we make it special of course! 

As a mentoring organization, our workshops are based on role-modeling: a workshop is an opportunity to support the participants in their personal development, to show them a new attitude or to give them new ideas; we also take the chance to talk with them and listen to their stories and their opinions.

And don’t forget peer-mentoring! Working together is a great opportunity to grow our personalities, to challenge ourselves in a cooperative environment; it’s a fun way to develop soft skills like social skills, problem-solving, conflicts solution and proactivity. 

I will be back on this topic, too important!

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Can I create my potential?

Potential is defined as latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success.

Who says that potential can only be developed and not created? 

People here showed me that it is possible! 

1. Say yes! Accepting new challnges will lead you to unexpected paths where unexpected potential can grow.

2. Trust your guides. They don’t know which way you will choose, but they know all the possibilities and they can provide equipment.

3. Join group trips. Travel buddies can show you some nice spots where you see yourself differently.

4. Be flexible. Malleable, stretchable, versatile. There’s always a way to fit in.

5. Reflect on you experience. That’s probably the hardest part, but it’s the actual creative moment.

So here you have your brand-new potential! Enjoy!

(In the picture the first tulips I saw in the The Netherlands, sounded metaphorical)

[myexchangeleeuwarden-blog]

Mentoring Matters!

The Mentoring  Meet&Match, that took place this March in Brussels, was such an inspiring event for me!

“Basing the mentoring field on our personal connections”

Mentoring practitioners and researchers from all over Europe gathered to exchange knowledge and build future collaborations. Looking at this networking process, I saw people -not only businesses- connecting with each other . This is the added value of the mentoring field: the belief in the power of personal relations, the focus on individuals and their strengths!

“Our joint visits to Brussels are our signature of showing the EU  government our shared belief in the impact of mentoring”

And why Brussels? Youth development, integration of migrants, unemployment and many other social topics were on the table! Mentoring programmes can be a solution for these issues, so firstly we invited members of the EU Commission to contribute to the event and then, we met members of the EU Parliament to see how we could link our work to their priorities. We call it advocacy for mentoring.

I would never ever expected to have private meetings with Parliament members, but it’s good to dream big sometimes! 

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Intercultural dialogue at lunch

I took part in many intercultural events and, surprise surprise, food was often the main exchange tool!

We had an International Lunch at the office and everybody cooked dishes from their own culture (yes of course, you can find the pictures below). An unique –and tasty- opportunity to share stories about our origins and our families. I tried Dutch, Caribbean, Moroccan, Egyptian, more Dutch and Italian!

Approaching life with an intercultural mindset is an essential skill nowadays. It also increases cultural self- awareness, because  getting in touch with other cultures makes you more conscious of your own and helps you to take informed decisions on your future.

Be curious! Be eager of intercultural interactions, viewing differences as a learning opportunity!

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First impressions: an internship for everybody

No photocopies or coffee making here guys! None needs you to bring their bags! What they want from you is to set some personal goals and chose the activities that suit you better.

Your previous life and working experience are highly valued, as well as your personal interests and abilities. The idea behind is that the internship helps the development of the whole person, starting from what you already have. Amazing right?

Initiative is strongly encouraged, but you are never alone in realizing your projects. The organization is built on CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE, so you will always find a partner in crimes whatever you need to achieve.

Last but not the least, you will find many students, even international, working here!

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How I ended up here!

“Oooh you’re from  Italy, so warm! So why did you come to Leeuwarden?”

I study Psychology ( yes I want to become a shrink) at University of Padova in Italy, last year I took part as a mentor  in the Mentor-UP Programme lead by my University.

I experienced on my own skin the powerful impact of mentoring in people lives and, combined to that, I really wanted to go abroad, so I came to the European Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring http://www.ecebmentoring.eu/ in Leeuwarden and that’s how the big adventure started!

This experience is turning out to be so enriching and exciting, so I felt the need to share it and to inspire other people to exchange.

I’m not alone in this of course. My colleague and friend Leah is doing the graphics and, most of all, supporting me! We call it peer-mentoring!