An intergenerational programme helping young migrants find employment in France is looking for people with time and experience to act as their mentors.
The scheme, called Duo for a Job, connects jobseekers with over-50s whose experience and expertise are not currently being taken advantage of.
Since 2013, it has launched over 8,000 successful partnerships.
Being a mentor involves giving up two or three hours each week for six months. During this time you will help the jobseeker decide what they want to do, assist with their CV and offer other advice.
“Almost half of our mentors are still working, although it is a commitment to your mentee,” said Jana El-Assaad, 32, Duo for a Job’s director of communications.
Mentors are trained over four days to provide the best help.
“Eight out of 10 mentors decide to mentor again. Although it is not our main objective, we do create longstanding, personal relationships and people tend to stay in touch.”
Elena Choquet, a 65-year-old from Manchester, has had two full mentorships of six months with Wahidullah from Afghanistan and Ryosuke from Japan. She is currently embarking on her third.
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Wahidullah had been working as a pharmacist’s assistant in Kabul. When he came to France, his degree was not recognised as equivalent to the French version.
“We spent the first few weeks deciding if this was really what he wanted to do, as he was interested in a few other things. He decided to study part-time, getting accepted at a university.
“We also went to chemists to find a job. I went with him as I was worried there might be some prejudice against him. We eventually found somewhere and now he is in his second year. He is loved at the chemist and absolutely flying.
“We still see each other often and it has been a really interesting cultural experience for me.”
Elena helped Ryosuke adapt to life in FranceDuo for a Job
Her second mentee, Ryosuke, was married to a French woman but did not speak the language.
“He was quite culturally lost and depressed and did not know what to do, so we discussed potential options.”
Ryosuke managed to find a job teaching Japanese and waitering at a Japanese restaurant, and the pair also still meet up.
“Administration is not my strong point so my best help was in other areas,” said Mrs Choquet. “I really feel like these are mutually beneficial relationships though.”
She chooses to do her mentoring in six-month stints, using the other six months to visit family abroad.
“Duo are so supportive of doing what feels good for you. People who are newly retired and have things to do, do not necessarily want to feel tied down and Duo is very respectful of this.
“It is extremely professional and there are so many contacts if you need help."
Mrs Choquet studied French at university in Bristol. She went to France for her year abroad, where she met her future husband. In 1982, she moved to France with her husband as an English teacher after acquiring a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language certificate) in London.
“I was an English teacher for a few years at different schools, then got a permanent position as head of languages at an international school before becoming head of international relations,” she said.
“I realised that I had a big gap in my understanding of how other cultures worked, so I did a four-year course in cultural communication.”
Around 10 years ago, she became a therapist for people suffering from chronic fatigue, chronic pain, chronic stress and fibromyalgia. She took early retirement at the age of 59 to devote more time to that.
“It took a while for me to psychologically leave my job because it was my baby, so it was difficult to separate. I was still busy, but I knew I wanted to do some voluntary work, although I did not want to start something and regret it.
“I waited, and sat on it, and after about three years, I stumbled across an advert on Facebook for Duo for a Job.
“The values of Duo really spoke to me, I sent a message and within three minutes, I had a reply.”
“Elena has a background which is very specific and she is a great mentor, but we do not ask our mentors to have similar experience,” said Jana El-Assaad.
Those interested can sign up for a free online or in-person session on Duo for a Job’s website to find out more. To take part, you do not need to speak fluent French but must be able to hold a conversation.
