Returnee Mentor

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Request a Returnee Mentor

The Goal

The Returnee Mentor Project, was created in 2009, to maintain a group of 30+ Returnees contacting students, via phone, email (in addition to the contact from AFS Application Advisers), who build 1:1 relationships with students before they depart and provide support when they return.

The hopes of this project are many, however an important aspect is to help Returnees continue their professional development skills, which is great for resume building, as well as, help prepare students going abroad to feel less anxiety and more supported by talking first-hand with a Returnee who has already been through the challenges of study abroad and integrating back home. It is also a great way for AFS Returnees to give back to AFS while continuing their involvement in the AFS Family.

Furthermore, Returnee Mentors will encourage students to become registered AFS volunteers upon return from their study abroad program and thus maintain the group of Returnee Mentors.

Returnee Mentors are required to complete Mentor and Global Link training and become registered AFS volunteers. Once they have completed the requirements, they will be qualified to contact students preparing to go abroad.

Feel free to direct any questions, comments, concerns, to Intern Project Coordinator Nora Mishanec-Novak.


How do I find Returnee Mentors in my area?

Click here to be directed to the Private:2011 Returnee Mentor Project Map containing the location of current Returnees active in Returnee Mentor and Ambassador volunteer projects. Note: This is contained on a 'private' page because it contains the confidential contact information of participants.

To use the map:

  1. Log into the AFSWiki. This is contained on a 'private' page because it contains the confidential information.
  2. Click on the map, which will take you to another page.
  3. Using your mouse, you can 'Zoom' into your area and find 'pins' with the contact information for the Returnees in your area. You can also use the tool in the top left corner to zoom in and out.
  4. When you click on a pin, the Returnee's contact information pops-up. In addition, their Returnee Initiative volunteer project, program, and country.
  5. From here you can use the provided information to contact trained Returnee Mentors, who can get involved with local AFS volunteer activities.

The Process

Commitment

To be eligible to participate one must:

  • be an AFS Returnee from at least the past five years
  • be a registered AFS volunteer
  • complete required training (Part 1: Mentor Info Session & Part 2: Global Link)
  • have access to a phone and computer


Training

If you are interested in becoming an AFS Returnee Mentor then register for an online information session to learn more about the roll of a Returnee Mentor, the commitment and expectations, as well as, how to contact/support students, and proper phone etiquette. After completing the information session, you will be invited to complete part 2 of your training session to solely go over how to record your student contact in Global Link (the AFS-USA database). You must be a registered volunteer and complete both information trainings before you are matched with students going abroad. You will also receive a Returnee Mentor certificate after completely the training.

Calling Mentees

Returnee Mentors receive about 5 current student applicants, who are going to the country/program from which the Returnee returned.

  • Note- AFS Application Advisers will send a Returnee Mentor Request Form to all current student applicants, who will then fill out the form to express interest in being matched with a Returnee Mentor. Your students will be expecting your phone call.

Once the Returnee Mentor receives their student's names, they will look them up in Global Link to access their contact information. They are asked to contact their students within one week of receiving their students. Note- The average amount of students it takes to call before anyone picks up seems to be 3. That means about 1.5 out of 5 people called will pick up the phone. If the Mentor can not get a hold of their students on the first phone call we ask for them to call two more times to reach the student or parent. If the student/parent does not answer the phone by the third time the Mentor will leave a message for the student to contact them be email. If the student still does not contact the Mentor then the Mentor will receive a new student.

Each time the Mentor contacts their students they will make a contact log in Global Link so the AFS Application Advisers can see how many times the student was contacted, as well as, questions or concerns from the student. If the student has a question that the Mentor cannot answer, they can first try to find the answer in the Resource section at the bottom of this page or they can email an Application Adviser at myapplication@afs.org.

We ask Returnee Mentors to build supportive relationships with their students and to continue their relationship abroad, if needed, but does not distract the students while they are abroad.

Here is an email from a Returnee Mentor about the calls they had been doing:

  • :"I just called _____ from Texas! He seemed very excited, and asked tons of great questions. We talked for about 20 minutes. I was confident in answering his questions and he loved hearing about my experience and a little about the culture. One of his concerns is not playing baseball while abroad, but I shared with him how many different activities I did while aboard [sic] and he was very interested. His parents think it is a great idea to go abroad with AFS. This was Fun!"

Mentor Resources

How to Find Volunteers in your Team

Use this tutorial to find a list of all the active volunteers in your Team. You can also use this tutorial to view their Person Record for information on the volunteer, including contact information, affiliation(s) with the Team, and registration status.

Join Returnee Mentors on Facebook

Helpful Templates When Making Calls

Questions? Email an Application Advisor at myapplication@afs.org.

Global Link Guides

Access Global Link here: http://usa.afsglobal.org

Global Link Help Desk: glhelp@afsusa.org. Email the Global Link Help Desk and they will help you with any Global Link problems. If you feel the need to have person-to-person assistance via a phone call, send an email to this mailbox with your phone number and availability and one of the super user volunteers will call you.

Resources to Review

Before you call your students you will want to review the following resources to give students/parents an up to date picture of current AFS programs. However, it is not your role to memorize everything here, but rather it is a resource for you to refer to when students or parents ask these questions.

We appreciate all you give back to AFS! Keep up the great work!


Back to Returnee Initiative


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May 22 2012
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