The mentoring programme is part of the Essex Year of Opportunity, a £1.33 million campaign by the county council which creates projects and partnerships to remove barriers to essential skills for all ages.
In partnership with local and global employers, such as c2c Rail and Microsoft, the programme now has 50 mentors signed up, and 30 young people have already taken part.
Participants are matched with mentors who offer tailored support, including:
- insights into different industries
- career advice and CV support
- interview preparation
- personal development
Amaia, mentee and We Rise member, said: “When I first heard about We Rise, I knew it would be a great way to gain experience and be part of something that truly supports young people. My mentor, Alice, gave me everything from interview tips to personal advice – and even connected me with professionals in communications, which helped me figure out the career path I want to follow.”
Alice Shimali, Head of Communications at c2c Rail and Amaia’s mentor, said: “I’ve been proud to take part in this important programme and support Amaia as she navigated the next steps in her communications career. A real highlight was her becoming the first person on her university course to secure an internship for her placement year, demonstrating her unwavering drive to succeed and develop.