As part of the support program for the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) finalists, Mowgli Foundation, in partnership with Berytech, kick started the first yearlong Mowgli Mentoring Experience (MME) for social entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The GSVC is an international business plan competition for social entrepreneurs, which is gratefully supported by several key partners including Saint-Joseph University, BLC Bank and MercyCorps Egypt.
The MME is designed to train volunteer mentors in the art of mentoring, a fundamental component of leadership development, so that they inspire, support and empower entrepreneurs to achieve their business and personal potential. This 12-month program was kicked off on 8th March with a 3-day workshop where
the mentors are trained, matched with the 12 GSCV finalists and together they develop their Framework of Working Agreement for the coming year.
The residential workshop was held at the Ahiram Hotel in Byblos, Lebanon. This remote and inspiring location enabled all participants to truly connect with themselves and each another, a fundamental ingredient of the program. Facilitated by two of Mowgli's Lebanese facilitators, Nadine Asmar and Christine Francis, the participants were trained on the philosophies of mentoring and given tools and techniques to enable them to build and develop their mentoring relationship over the year.
Participants had an intense and interactive learning and relationship building experience, which enabled them to develop their skills, identify and clarify their personal and business goals, meet other entrepreneurs and mentors and ultimately be matched with their mentor for a year of mutual growth and development.
Jules Hatem, Triple E and GSVC finalist, said: "We had the chance to discuss our ideas with many valuable mentors within a different context and approach; we learnt so much during this weekend. Our ideas are more structured and we received a lot of energy and motivation which will help keep us moving forward so that we can realize our ambitions".
Thanaa Al Khasawneh, Mowgli's Business Manager for the Levant, said: ""Once again Mowgli Mentoring Experience brings me to meet exceptional entrepreneurs and mentors; I am delighted to see that the participants of our 7th program in Lebanon have already started attaining the power of mentoring with enthusiasm, inspiration and excitement."
Krystel Khalil, Program Manager at Berytech, said: "this experience was so enriching for all participants, including mentors and mentees, and Berytech is really encouraged to be engaged in helping social entrepreneurs bring their passion to reality".
