Mentoring at Sindbad: experiences that open up perspectives

Mentoring means more than just giving advice. It is a bridge between experience and young people who are still finding their way. Alper is a Senior Specialist Consultant in the Sustainability Management Team at STRABAG Innovation & Digitalization (SID). For him, participating in Sindbad's mentoring program was an intense and enriching experience that not only gave a lot to his mentee, but also to himself.

Why Sinbad?

"I've always wanted to work with young people and, if possible, be a role model" he says. Especially in today's society, where male role models are rare and often seem extreme, it is particularly valuable to support young people in their everyday lives. Sindbad offers the chance to share perspectives, get to know the realities of life and support decisions.

For our colleague, it is also a means of doing something socially meaningful. He became aware of the program through reports on educational inequality and the importance of social role models. It quickly became clear that Alper could not only pass on knowledge, but also make a real difference.

The program: structure and procedure

Sindbad brings young people, usually aged 12 to 14, together with mentors from various companies. The mentors go through an application process: forms, motivational texts and a video in which they introduce themselves are used to select them. Alper found it particularly exciting that the young people choose their mentor themselves. A moment of surprise that has a positive influence on the first contact.

The encounter with the mentee

Alper became a mentor to a 14-year-old pupil who came from a challenging background and was currently learning German. "It was impressive how motivated he was and how quickly he was willing to take responsibility for his educational path," recalls our colleague.

Together, they organized tutoring and researched possible educational steps. Alper supported his mentee with applications for the next school level. But the mentoring didn't just consist of academic support: it also included leisure activities such as sport and eating out together. This created a relationship of equals.

It was sometimes particularly challenging for Alper to adjust his personal expectations.

This experience taught him to react flexibly and act with empathy - skills that are also valuable in his day-to-day work as a Senior Specialist Consultant.

Personal learnings

In addition to working directly with his mentee, Alper developed soft skills such as conflict management, patience, communication skills and the ability to take on other perspectives.

"Sinbad showed me how important trust and reliability are. You have to act as equals, but also give clear direction when necessary," he describes. At the same time, he was able to gain insights into the reality of young people's lives: Challenges on the educational path, the balance between free time and responsibility as well as the motivation to achieve one's own goals.

Positive moments and highlights

One weekend in particular was particularly memorable, when Alper and his mentee organized the registration for a tutoring facility together. It was a moment when theory and practice came together: Planning, research and implementation. Such moments of success not only strengthen the young people, but also the mentors.

Our colleagues were also surprised by the openness of the young talents: many take the opportunity to be mentored very seriously and see the added value. For Alper personally, it was a special feeling to be part of this learning and development journey.

Recommendations for future mentors

The Senior Specialist Consultant recommends the programme to anyone who is interested in supporting young people in their next step and working on themselves at the same time.

The benefits are many and varied:
- Improvement of own social skills and communication skills
- Insights into other realities of life Personal
- Fulfilment through accompanying a young person

Alper emphasizes that other companies should also support such initiatives more strongly, for example by giving time off for mentoring activities. STRABAG sets a good example. "It's added value for everyone involved and shows that social responsibility is being practiced," he says.

Conclusion: Mentoring is more than commitment

For Alper, his mentoring journey was an intensive, instructive and enriching experience that he would repeat at any time. After all, mentoring at Sindbad is an opportunity to broaden perspectives, build trust and create positive momentum for the future.

Alper's summary: "You not only give something, you also get an incredible amount in return: experience, new perspectives and personal moments of success."