Employment mentors play a crucial role in helping mentees identify their strengths, stay motivated, and prepare for entering the labor market, from job searching to maintaining employment. Social mentoring is an innovative approach within the social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which offers numerous benefits. These include the development of a platform and the creation of a roadmap for further strengthening institutional support and supporting the economic development of local communities.
Sanda Ljukovac, an experience human resources expert, educator, and moderator, has dedicated over 25 years to improving and implementing Human Resources Management practices. She carries out human resource management activities across various economic sectors in BiH, and in companies throughout the region.
Her extensive experience in candidate selection and interviewing inspired her to engage in employment mentoring, which allows her to share her expertise and support others in their professional growth. Sanda learned a lot through the employment mentoring process. For her, each meeting with a mentee is a chance to tackle new challenges and navigate life together. “Helping someone whose life has been filled mostly with obstacles is not an easy task. In short, persistence is one of the key qualities that we need in life, and I have become particularly aware of that now“, she says.
Sanda noted the challenges in working with mentees: “The challenges vary—ranging from social and economic to, at times, health-related—but the primary challenge lies in building mutual trust between the employment mentor and the mentee.” Once they overcome all the challenges, the sky is the limit for Sanda and her mentees.
The greatest inspiration for Sanda, which keeps her motivated in the face of challenges, is witnessing the progress of her mentees—especially when they take the initiative and offer suggestions for future activities.
According to Sanda, one of the key indicators of success in employment mentoring is the mentee’s growing openness in communication. “It wasn’t easy at first, but now I am seeing a big change in how mentees express their needs and thoughts. Open communication has become one of the key factors for progress,” says Sanda.
Regarding the effectiveness of employment mentoring in addressing mentees’ real challenges, Sanda emphasizes that the process cannot be seen as a one-size-fits-all solution. “It depends on the specific circumstances and the environment the mentee is in. The social aspects of a mentee’s life, along with the support they receive from their social circle, plays a crucial role,” says Sanda. If the mentee receives adequate support from family, friends, or the community, the mentoring process is better equipped to help them achieve their goals. If they lack support, the mentee may encounter additional challenges, which means that the mentoring approach needs to be adapted.
Sanda believes that employment mentoring is extremely important for Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly given our labor market and economic context. “Before participating in this project, I was unaware of how important this type of guidance and support is for young people. This program should gain a strong foothold in our country,” she says. Sanda believes that mentoring plays an important role in reducing unemployment, improving young people’s skills, and supporting their integration into the labor market.
Reflecting on the positive changes she has experienced through mentoring, Sanda is confident in her decision to participate in the program. “I would choose to be an employment mentor again without hesitation. The entire mentoring process is both fulfilling and motivating for me, and I would highly encourage others in the profession to join this program,” says Sanda, highlighting the vital role mentoring plays in young people’s lives and their professional growth.
Finally, Sanda has a message for everyone working with young people: “The saying “Life is easy when you’re young” has a flip side. While life may seem simple to young people, they really do need help and guidance. Although we tend to think of young people as confident, many of them struggle with a lack of self-confidence. They need support to realize their full potential,” she explains.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT, as part of the project Social Mentorship for Youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina and as a partner in the regional project Social Inclusion of Disadvantaged Groups in the Western Balkans (SoRi III), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is developing a social mentorship approach focused on labor market integration and based on the methodology created by the Association for Research, Communication, and Development PUBLIC from Skopje.
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