Mentor Program brings project management advice and support direct to volunteers
Commencing in February 2008, AVI and Project AID jointly ran a pilot mentoring program for volunteers and project workers on AVI programs.
The PMI Melbourne chapter provides financial backing to Project Aid.
This assisted covering the costs of communication and administration of the mentoring pilot.
The Project Aid mentors provided were all qualified project managers from PMI and AIPM.
Involvement in the Project Aid mentoring program allows trained project managers the opportunity of being involved in voluntary work in the Aid sector in a part-time basis (up to 20 hrs/month). PMI PDU points are also able to be accrued from hours spent involved in this program
Given the benefits and opportunity for rewarding involvement for the project management community, Project Aid now intends expanding the mentoring program within AVI and other NGOs.
The AVI /Project Aid pilot programs were all based in Papua New Guinea and involved AVI volunteers working in isolated locations and communities throughout the country.
The projects included the following:
• Stop Aids PNG - in the Central Highlands – sponsored by Anglicare.
• Living Water Scheme - sponsored by Pentecostal Church (Port Moresby)
• PNG Educational Theatre programs– sponsored by PNG Govt
• Provincial Aids Council – Establishing District Aids awareness programs – Milne Bay.
The pilot ran for an initial 6 month period and is currently being expanded to other AVI locations and countries.
The mentoring pilot program involved:
• Project Aid and the relief organisation working closely together to set parameters, trial methodologies, and review and act on lessons learnt during implementation. This was an important precursor to rolling out a wider program.
• One on one mentoring supported by the website and links to Project AID resources including the Project Management manual.
•The provision of mentor support via telephone and email, providing back up to mentors and mentees.
• A mentor coordinator appointed at both Project Aid and the mentor organisations.
• Ongoing reporting and review over the course of the pilot program.
The mentoring program has been established as a low maintenance program to benefit both the mentee and the mentor.
Special thanks should be extended to AVI for the active encouragement of the pilot, Geoff Pratt, Project Aid Mentor Co-ordinator and Graeme Williams who acted as the champion for establishing the pilot.
Some key challenges faced during the pilot program include:-
- difficulty of communication
- regularity of communication
- movement and change in assignment scope and personnel
Some excellent outcomes have been achieved and feedback from both sides has been positive.
The next steps will include Project Aid training of volunteers and the matching of Project Aid mentors with volunteers on an ongoing basis.
Project Aid is seeking partner organisation/s who would like to be involved in upcoming Mentor Program/s.
Project Aid is seeking experienced volunteer project managers from the Australian Project Management Community who would like to be involved in upcoming Mentor Programs.
Volunteers can register their interest here
