About The Canadian Overseas Mentorship Experience

The Canadian Overseas Mentorship Experience (COME), is a project led by Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario and is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This program offers a unique mentorship opportunity to pre-approved foreign trained professional and skilled worker immigrants from the Philippines and India before they come to Canada. This program is both National and International in scope. Mentees will be linked with a professional or skilled worker in a like profession in the location where they are planning to immigrate within Canada.

The program centers on three key components:

- a one-to-one e-mentoring relationship lasting six months
- a structured on-line course that will help guide the relationship over the six month period
- provision of an on-line community that will support the mentorship process by providing  resources and communication venues between all participants

The selection of the mentees for this project will be supported by The Association of Canadian Community Colleges site staff in both the Philippines and India. The selection of Mentors for this project will be done with the assistance of staff from both Humber and Seneca Colleges in Toronto.

FAQ

1. Who can participate as a mentee?
   
   Mentees are individuals who are professionals or skilled workers and have been preapproved for immigration to Canada
   
   
2. What are the benefits of being a mentee?

Language Benefits

Mentees will be able to practice their language skills in three different forms:

• written
• verbal (depending on connectivity), and
• electronic (i.e. email, chat, instant messaging, etc.)

Mentees will also learn some specific forms of language appropriate in:

• their chosen destination
• the Canadian workplace in general, and their specific profession / occupation

Integration Benefits

Mentees will develop networking contacts before coming to Canada in:

• their chosen destination
• settlement agencies
• their profession / occupation

Mentees will have a much more accurate understanding of:

• Canadian society and how it works
• the culture of their chosen destination
• the Canadian workplace
• how their profession / occupation operates in Canada

Educational Benefits

Mentees will participate in a 6 month online course allowing them the opportunity to:

• Receive a general education college credit (elective)
  
  
3. What are the expectations of mentees?
   
   
• be willing to take an online course
• have basic computer skills and access to a computer
• be willing to dedicate a minimum of 24 hours over a six month period engaged in the mentor-mentee relationship
  
  
4. Who can participate as a mentor?
        
   Mentors are professionals or skilled workers employed in Canada in a like profession to the preapproved immigrants coming to Canada.
   
   
5. What are the benefits of being a mentor?
   
   Professional Development

   By acting as a coach, mentors:

   • gain a greater understanding of their own profession
   • act as leaders in their profession, bringing the concerns of their mentees into professional discussions

   By helping mentees understand the Canadian workplace, mentors:

   • gain a better understanding of the strengths of Internationally trained professionals
   • gain a greater understanding of the culture(s) of their mentees

   Personal Development

   By participating in the C.O.M.E. program, mentors:

   • are "giving back" to their community and to Canada
   • are gaining greater cross-cultural understanding
   • are learning more about how to participate in the national and international workplace

   Educational Benefits

   Mentors will participate in a 6 month online course allowing them the opportunity to:

   • receive a general education college credit (elective)
     
     
6. What are the requirements of mentorship?
   
   
   
   • be currently employed in a like profession to the mentee
   • have sufficient basic computer skills to operate in the e-mentoring environment (NB: some basic support will be provided in the form of an online tutorial and tutor)
   • be wiling to spend a minimum of 24 hours over a six month period engaged in the mentor-mentee relationship
     
     
7. What if I require help with using the on-line course or on-line community?
   
   
   • Algonquin College has designated mentee and mentor coordinators to trouble shoot any difficulties that occur. The college IT department also provides support to all participants enrolled in an on-line course. Email addresses and phone numbers will be provided to all participants as they begin the process.
     
     
8. What if I experience cultural barriers that I need assistance with?
   
   
   • LASI World Skills is involved with this project to help provide cultural competency support and assistance with connecting mentees to organizations related to their profession. Settlement issues related to employment can be addressed by their staff. 
     
     
9. Who can I go to for assistance if needed?
   
   
   • while you are involved in this program, there will be a mentee coordinator and a mentor coordinator who will assist you with any questions you have a long the way.
     
     
10. What is the time commitment during this mentorship process?
    
    
    • participants in this program are asked to commit to 24 hours of interaction over a six month period of time.
      
      
11. What happens when the six months are over?
    
    
    • the program is based on a 6 month commitment. After the six months are up, there is no further expectation that the relationship will be continued. 
    • further communication may occur if it is mutually agreed upon