Our Mentorship Program
Putting theory into practice
About
Peoples-praxis Mentorship Initiative
In the 21st century it is important to recognise the need for lifelong learning, where we take control of our own development. In the field of public health, although a master’s degree offers academic and theoretical public health competencies, most practical skills need to be developed during professional experience, often with little or no guidance from experienced professionals. This might apply to early career researchers, or those working on service provision, health policy or advocacy in a range of health settings.
◘ To be a mentee you will need to work in a low-to middle-income country and be a graduate with a master’s degree in public health or related fields such as health management, monitoring and evaluation or health promotion.
◘ You may want help in:
▸ The technical aspects of your work, such as planning or writing up research, evaluating an intervention, developing health policy or a programme
▸ Your own personal development, such as career advice.
◘ You will be offered a certificate if you meet the objectives as identified between yourself and a mentor.
- ◘ To volunteer as a mentor at Peoples-Praxis, you should have at least three years’ experience working in areas relevant to public health after achieving your qualification, and show evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
- ◘ Mentors are welcome from all parts of the world so long as you have the qualifications, experience and enthusiasm, and a desire to support others.
- ◘ We hope you will learn from mentees too and about the settings in which they work.
- ◘ We will offer a volunteer certificate, and you may also be able to use this experience towards your own CPD.
Our Process
- Once you click ‘Apply here’ you will be taken to our mentoring platform.
- You will be asked to complete a few simple questions about yourself, and your needs as a mentee or expertise to offer as a mentor.
- The Peoples-Praxis team will then attempt to match mentors with mentees.
- You will receive an email when a match is proposed, and then it is up to you to arrange to meet online, e.g. on Zoom or MS Teams.
- At your first meeting you should agree on the goals and objectives of your time together.
- The Mentorsphir platform provides
- A way of matching mentors with mentees
- A goals and objectives form, mentoring agreement, and evaluation form, which we recommend each mentee completes for their personal records.
- Resources on the mentoring process.
- The option to be added to a country group, for group mentoring or peer support and networking opportunities.
7. Back on the Peoples-Praxis website, you will find access to a number of online resources, which you might find helpful, in the technical aspects of public health research and practice.
8. Peoples-Praxis will provide certificates to mentees if you have met the objectives that you agree with your mentee, as well as to mentors for use in your own professional development portfolio.
The Mentoring process should be led by the needs of the mentees. Both mentees and mentors should be committed and willing to make the time for the partnership between them. The relationship is reciprocal, both parties gaining from it and being open minded and ready to change
Our Mentoring Guide
Please see this guide for how to navigate the Mentorsphir mentoring platform: