About the Program
Intercultural communication is becoming increasingly important in today’s global environment where personal and professional success implies the ability to communicate across cultures and to draw from all perspectives, experiences and worldviews. This ability to see beyond one’s own culture promotes empathy for others while encouraging a degree of critical thinking about one’s own cultural position.
The Intercultural Mentorship Program looks at offering students and staff opportunities to make friends, learn about other cultures, develop awareness of own cultural lens, strengthening the sense of community and creating a welcoming and inclusive campus. It is an experiential program, i.e. “learning by doing”, engaging participants in intercultural interactions, encouraging reflection and critical thinking and enhancing or developing skills or new ways of thinking, and contributing to Community Engagement Service Learning.
This program is a one-on-one Local-Global Partnership, where an immigrant/international student is matched with a Canadian-raised student or staff for intercultural exchange, practice of communication skills and friendship over the course of a term. It is also an opportunity for participants to practice their leadership skills, to collaborate in establishing goals and planning activities as well as exploring Winnipeg together. And…most importantly: have fun!
Timelines and requirements:
- Time commitment: 10 hours over the course of a term.
- The program runs twice per year at the start of the fall and the winter academic terms.
- You will remain in contact with your partner over the term.
- Students from all academic programs can apply.
- The program is a voluntary opportunity. However, some academic programs also partner to offer the Intercultural Mentorship Program as a graded assignment option to students.
What is Mentorship?
Mentorship is a special relationship that brings people together in an intentional, voluntary relationship. This relationship usually takes place between a person who has lived through a specific experience and a person who is new to that experience. In the Intercultural Mentorship Program, we believe that each mentor partner has lived through specific, unique experiences and we ask that you share your experience and perspective, whether Local or Global with your mentor partner. Because you may have had a different cultural experience growing up, there is much to learn from one another about how you were raised, what your life has been like, and how you view the world. Genuine interest and curiosity as well as a willingness to share are therefore essential qualities of a Mentor Partner.
Good mentoring requires time and commitment and a willingness to act as a positive role model who will create a safe spaces for insightful conversations to occur.
Students from all academic programs can apply.
Commitment is 10 hours of time over the course of a term. The program runs twice a year and starts at the beginning of the fall and the winter academic terms.
The program is a voluntary opportunity. However, some academic programs also partner to offer the Intercultural Mentorship Program as a graded assignment option to students.
The roll out for Term 1, 2019-20 is as follows:
- Applications by: September 18, 2019
- Attend orientation by: October 4, 2019
- Complete meeting hours by: December 6, 2019
- Complete reflection survey and meeting log by: December 6, 2019
- Optional Award Application due: March 31, 2020
Making a World of Difference Award
Upon the successful completion of the Intercultural Mentorship Program, mentors can apply for the Making a World of Difference Award.
Apply Today
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Mentor Partner. We hope to inspire you to look at life through someone else’s perspective, to challenge your own assumptions, to apply critical thinking and become more knowledgeable and sensitive interculturally and to enhance your overall experience at Red River College and in Winnipeg!
If you are willing to be a good mentor, wanting to develop your power skills, and are available for 10 during the course of the term, then this program is for you!