Let me start by saying that it’s often hard to articulate just what a mentor is or why we believe they are such an important part of our scholarship program. As much as we’re proud to provide scholarships for students across northern Uganda, we believe that the investment we make in each student through their relationship with a mentor is how the program is truly changing lives. I like to tell people that mentors are the heart of our scholarship program because they meet daily with students and their families, providing encouragement and advice intended to help students overcome problems that are posing a challenge to their success at school. Our mentors are men and women who stand as role models, friends, confidants, counselors, and support networks for our students.

Some who have come to northern Uganda have been able to see mentoring in action, but for those of you who haven’t traveled halfway across the world, it might be difficult to envision just what I’m talking about. So, a few weeks ago I sent Jessica Fairchild Conrad, IC’s photography intern, out to the field with some mentors to capture their work and to tell, through photos, just what a day in the life a mentor entails. My hope is that through these photos, you can understand why I admire IC’s mentors and why I’m proud of the work they are doing across northern Uganda.

8:30 am: Mentors pack into the vehicle, moving to the field for home visits.

10:00 am: Transport in the vehicle only takes the mentors so far and because the families of some students live in rural areas, mentors make the rest of the journey on foot.

10:25 am: It’s important for mentors to have a relationship with a student’s family. Parents or guardians are able to share concerns with a mentor and together they can work to better support the student in school.

12:30 pm: During a home visit, mentors and family members discuss the student’s performance at school and also how the student is behaving at home. Some family members also share their own problems with the mentor, who is then able to offer them encouragement and advice. Mentors who work for Invisible Children most commonly have a background in either education or social work. IC provides further training in guidance, counseling and psychosocial support - giving mentors further skills in helping people work through their problems.

1:00 pm: The day ends like it began, with mentors walking back to the vehicle and then returning to the office where reports are filed on the outcome of the day’s visits. Tomorrow the mentors will begin the process again - this time perhaps by visiting a student at school -  all with the great hope that their efforts will help a new generation of leaders for northern Uganda achieve success in school and, ultimately, in life.

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