Being a Mentor Is also about Opening Doors
Every volunteer contributes something different. José Mari decided to get involved by first mentoring a participant in the Mentors program and, later, teaching math and Spanish. Today, he shares his experience with us.
“I started last summer by volunteering for the Mentors program. We met once a week at María Zambrano station, an open and pleasant place where we could talk comfortably, even on very hot days.
The first few meetings involved getting to know each other and figuring out what my partner really needed. I soon realized that, beyond the language barrier, his biggest challenge was a lack of contacts, references, and knowledge of the social context in Málaga. During some of our conversations, we used English to communicate more deeply and build a trusting relationship that helped him express himself with more self-confidence.
That experience helped me realize that being a mentor isn’t about solving someone else’s problems but about walking alongside them as they find their own solutions. It was also a chance to reexamine some biases that I had, without realizing it.
Over time, I was even able to go with him to several job interviews, until he landed a job as a kitchen assistant at a restaurant. Sharing that moment brought me immense joy.
This semester, I wanted to continue helping by teaching online classes in basic maths and Spanish language and culture. Although remote learning has its challenges, it also allows me to reach people who live in different cities. With a simple graphic tablet, we’ve managed to turn the screen into a small whiteboard and keep learning together.”
_____________
Thank you, José Mari, for your commitment, your warmth, and for showing that supporting others also means helping them discover new opportunities.
There are many ways to get involved with Vínculos Project. Some people act as mentors, while others teach classes, share their knowledge, or put their experience to work for those who are starting a new chapter in their lives.
If you’d also like to be part of this support network, we invite you to volunteer with Fundación Asha-Kiran.. And if you’d prefer to contribute another way, you can become a member and help us ensure that more and more people find opportunities to build their future.
Thanks to the support of Málaga City Council.