Mentor and student, stronger together
Together for a Diploma: mentoring at the heart of the solution model
EVA bxl sees talent being lost every day in Brussels. People with enthusiasm, dreams and abilities who quit their education or think it’s not for them. Not because they fall short, but because the system leaves them alone when the going gets tough. This is what we had to work with!
Together for a Diploma was created through the EVA bxl 5i methodology of service design. That means: starting from real life. From listening. Of searching together. Brussels students with a history of migration joined partner organizations to discuss their experiences in higher education. What is difficult? What do you come up against? And what really helps? Not devised from behind a desk, but developed with the people concerned.
This made it clear where thresholds are. In the classroom, but also outside of it. Academically, socially and personally. Studying requires more than motivation and good grades alone. It requires clarity, self-confidence, language skills, a supportive environment and a place to work in peace.
Five building blocks, one whole
Based on these insights, a support model was developed with five building blocks: mentoring, networking, language support, study places and ambassadorship. They are never separate from each other, but reinforce each other.
Together, they push for equal educational opportunities and more social participation.
What does Building Block 1 “mentoring” look like?
Mentoring near
Mentoring is a central building block. A student is paired with a mentor for one academic year. Not a teacher or social worker, but an involved supporter who stands next to the student.
The relationship is equal and based on trust, closeness and mutual commitment. The mentor listens, thinks along and helps give direction, always starting from the student’s needs and experiences. The guidance goes beyond just studying. It is also about motivation, self-confidence and future prospects. About daring to express doubts. And becoming stronger step by step.
“My mentor sometimes believed in me more than I believed in myself,” Student
Volunteers with gusto
The mentors are volunteers of different ages and backgrounds, from 25 to 75. What unites them is a shared conviction: everyone has a right to the development of their talents, and education should be accessible to all.
They have an affinity with students and their environment. They listen without judgment. They are willing to invest time and attention. And they believe in the power of proximity.
Commitment of time and attention
A mentor commits for one academic year and is available an average of two hours per week. This can include conversations, live or online. The support can be very concrete, such as reviewing tasks or exam material, going over assignments together, giving feedback, practicing Dutch or making a study plan. It can also be broader: working on motivation, strengthening self-confidence, helping students make choices or looking for a quiet place to study. The mentor does not offer ready-made answers, but helps the student to develop clarity and resilience.
“Above all, I listen, I try to understand what is going on in him and also try to create an atmosphere where it is clear that there is trust and anything can be talked about.”, Mentor
No standard path
After an intake interview, mentor and student are carefully matched. The needs and expectations of the student, the profile and availability of the mentor and any shared interests are taken into account. The goal is always the same: a duo in which trust can grow.
After an initial introductory interview, mentor and student make arrangements together. Then the trajectory takes shape, flexible and evolving throughout the academic year. What is needed changes. And that is allowed.
Two-way learning
Mentors also grow with you. They develop new skills, such as listening better, setting boundaries and making referrals when necessary. They gain more insight into the living environment of students and reflect on their own role and impact. Through training, intervision and individual support they are guided in this. This keeps the quality of mentoring strong, and mentors feel supported.
Strong duos like Kifayat and Louis
Every journey is different, but connection and trust are always the common thread. You can see that with Kifayat, a 23-year-old nursing student, and Louis, a retired family physician. What began as support with studying grew into a partnership based on openness and equality. Louis listened and shared experience without directing. Kifayat dared to ask questions, name doubts and seize opportunities. Small interventions, such as finding a quiet study spot together, made a big difference. Their story shows how mentoring not only increases study opportunities, but also connects people.
“I had a lot of problems with anatomy. When I talked to my mentor, he helped a lot with how I could study the subject.” Kifayat
“I had the expectation in the year of study that he could call on me in difficult moments. Not to lose courage, to see the end. We were able to discuss his doubts about how to deal with the study.” Louis
More stories
On the project page and in the podcast of Together for a Diploma, students and mentors share their experiences, like Kifayat and Louis, as well as others. They are stories of learning together, growing and being on the road. In Brussels. With each other.