Rotary e-mentoring

The Mentoring involves the development of a relationship in which somebody (the Mentor), usually a more experienced person, helps someone else (the Pupil), usually a less experienced person, to achieve something. This involves creating an informal and non-threatening environment in which the Pupil feels comfortable discussing their needs and concerns and the Mentor can provide help and encouragement.

Origin of the word: the English word Mentoring derives from the name Mentor of Greek origin. Mentor was an old friend of Ulysses and he protected and educated Ulysses son Telemachus. Acting as a mentor, Athena set sail with Telemachus in search for his father. The meaning of Mentor is therefore essentially linked to a father figure: a trustworthy and wise counsellor. The Mentoring is the activity of offering to and sharing advice with a young person, as a father will do, with no ulterior motives.

Definitions:

- “Mentoring is a one-to-one relationship between an expert (Mentor) and a novice (Pupil) and it lasts until the latter will have developed his/her full potential.” (Baum, 1992).
- "Mentoring is a deliberate pairing of a more skilled or experienced person with a lesser skilled or experienced one, with the agreed-upon goal of having the lesser skilled person grow and develop specific competencies." (Murray, 1991).