The Mentorship Journey That Found Me

The Mentorship Journey That Found Me

Hello, dear reader,

I’ve been away for a while, but I’m back. Can I blame it on writer’s block? Maybe. But today, I return with a story close to my heart: my journey into mentorship.

Back in 2023, I started what would become one of the most meaningful paths in my life. A dear friend, Ivy, told me about a mentorship opportunity, and I applied. I’m eternally grateful to her.

In the interview, I was asked why I felt I could be a mentor to young girls. My answer was simple: I’ve lived the life of a girl growing up in a rural area, the firstborn of three daughters. I knew the challenges firsthand. And I remembered how much it would have meant to have someone to talk to, someone who wasn’t a teacher or a parent. That’s why I wanted to show up for a young girl the way no one showed up for me.

I was accepted into the Binti Shupavu mentorship program, led by CWE-TECH in partnership with Daring Girls. Together with a colleague, we received training from the wonderful mentors at GLAMI Tanzania, Devotha and Aikande, who guided us with so much grace and wisdom.

I began mentoring at Mirichu Secondary School. I was nervous at first, unsure of how things would unfold. But as the sessions went on, the girls began to open up about school, life, and the silent battles they faced. We would talk through their struggles, explore solutions together, and I always made sure to follow up.

Sometimes the stories I heard were overwhelming. In those moments, I would reach out to Ivy, now not just a friend but a colleague, or speak with our mentors from Tanzania. Their support kept me grounded. Yet, I realized that if I wanted to truly support these girls, I needed to equip myself even more. That’s when I began seriously considering going back to school to study counseling psychology.

Two years in, and I now mentor around 90 girls across two schools, Mirichu and Kaganda Secondary School. Watching these young girls grow in confidence, resilience, and kindness has been a blessing. But even more, I’ve seen myself grow too.

Mentorship has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. I often say, I found my purpose here. Though I haven’t gone back to school yet, I’m working toward it, and I know I will get there.

Dear reader, this isn’t the end of the story. I’m still on the journey with many more stories to tell. So stay with me. There’s more to come.

With love,

Harriet