Page 86 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

Mentoring

Future Leader Zeynab Aliyu founded the Black
Girl’s Mentoring Project (BGMP), in her rst year
of university, to help young black girls prepare
themselves for A-levels and university

was once in the same position as a areas and are typically paired with
areas and are typically paired with
mentees who aspire to be in similar
lot of the young girls that are a part mentees who aspire to be in similar
I of our project, and I was fortunate positions as them. This process is
extremely challenging as I have to
enough to receive support from those extremely challenging as I have to
who had done it before me. Now I assess their skill set to ensure that
assess their skill set to ensure that
study at a top 10 university where I am the right match is made.
exposed to countless opportunities. I also fi nd it hard having to
Because of that, I really wanted to help balance BGMP with my degree
those who may not receive the support and my other extra-curricular
they needed – so I began BGMP (Black commitments which is why I
Girls Mentoring Project). introduced application cycles and
and
Amongst my ethnic group, there seasons. These have helped me to
is a lack of awareness regarding dedicate a specifi c time to my BGMP
the signifi cance of Russell Group responsibilities such as pairing mentees
universities and the exclusive and mentors and updating the social
opportunities they are capable of media pages.
providing. My aim is to fi ll this void My proudest moment was hosting
by concentrating on two focal points: my fi rst event. It was a workshop that
examination and personal statement focused on reinforcing the BGMP focal
(university application) preparation. points to an audience of girls aged 15-
BGMP runs as a mentoring scheme 18. It had a turnout of over 80 people
through which skilled mentors are and eight BGMP mentors came to
matched to a mentee, and support speak on their own experiences.
them through the academic year. There I split the four-hour session into
are key barriers blocking educational two sections. The fi rst part of the
attainment at A level and top university day was a Personal Statement
access, and I conducted research to fi nd workshop where BGMP mentors
out what these barriers were, and how were assigned to a table of girls
they can be remedied. and went through a handout of
BGMP is comprised of around 130 exemplar personal statements.
mentees and 70 mentors. Our mentors The girls were also told to bring
are highly skilled in their respective their personal statements if they

84 FUTURE LEADERS 10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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