From the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation: The first meeting is critical in setting the tone of the relationship and for establishing working principles. Individuals can sometimes experience difficulty in the early stages of a relationship as each person settles down to get to know the other and build rapport. It is important that the atmosphere of the meeting is as informal as possible, so that participants are encouraged to relax.
What recommendations do you have to get the relationship off to a good start and what are some ways to make everyone more comfortable during this initial phase?
Preparation! Your volunteer coordinator should provide you with some background about your beneficiary. The Internet is also a helpful tool in learning about their language, history or culture. You may be able to identify their interests, language levels, background about their home country or what they hope to achieve during this time of transition. If you find it difficult to get the conversation going, bring some traditional food to sample or an English language instruction icebreaker. Don't worry if there are language barriers. It is amazing how much can be communicated through gestures. Relax, be interested and have a sense of humour.
ReplyDelete