Gambian graduates in responsible tourism complete their internships and mentoring sessions
As a final part of the “No Woman Left Behind” Project, the 28 students who have obtained the graduation certificate have been following during the months of October, November and December a program of professional practices and mentoring to facilitate their socio-labour insertion.
In general, the practices have gone very well for both the collaborating establishments and for our students. The management of the collaborating establishments were impressed by the weekly visits of career mentors who on these visits will talk to students about their comments to improve their performance.
Three students: Marie Mbya, Yama Jobe, Sainabou Secka did their internship in Ziguinchor, Casamance, Senegal. ITTOG made all logistical arrangements possible and the local project manager took them to the border when they went and picked them up in Ziguinchor after the mentoring program.
With regard to Mentoring, ittog selected 6 professionals with specific tasks defined. Four of them were selected mainly because they were already committed to the project and demonstrated their skills during the six months and two were recommended to ITTOG for their professional experiences in advising students.
Regarding mentoring, the programme’s methodology has included:
• Practical training in the workplace • Meetings of focus groups • Feedback sessions • Meetings with authorities: microfinance, women’s organizations, government… • Debates on attitude and leadership
All participants have expressed their satisfaction both for the practices they have been able to carry out and for the contents and methodology of the mentoring sessions.