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 Mentor Canada, in collaboration with MentorAbility Canada, an initiative of the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), has introduced a free online resource to support career development among youth with disabilities through mentorship. Building a Supportive Mentoring Network: A Guide for Mentees offers an evidence-based framework that explains mentorship, helps individuals identify suitable mentors, and provides guidance on developing sustainable mentoring networks.   

 Internship is a critical component of teacher education, yet existing research has focused primarily on competency development, with less attention to how student teachers develop capacities associated with self-determined professional learning. This study examined mentor-perceived professional growth during internship and explored behaviors and dispositions consistent with agency, reflective feedback engagement, capability, and professional identity.    

 Compassionate mentorship serves not only as an interpersonal practice but also as an organisational strategy for fostering healthier workplaces. Mentorship programs should emphasize mentor–mentee compatibility, promote psychological safety, support mentees’ professional development, integrate equity and inclusion, acknowledge mentors’ contributions, and establish mentorship as an integral part of organizational culture.   

Mentors see many benefits, too, including increased self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, creation of networks of volunteers, and insight into childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Employers, who encourage employees to become mentors and provide time or incentives for them to do so, also benefit.  

Effective mentors model and talk with students about not only how to navigate our complex and busy world—but also how to transform our world together.  “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success,” said Henry Ford, pioneer of mass production and founder of Ford Motor Company. 

Mentorship provides both mentors and mentees with a range of advantages. Establishing this relationship can benefit both parties as they gain new knowledge, expand their professional networks, and advance their careers. Knowing more about these benefits can help you decide whether to seek or take on the role of a mentor. In this article, we examine what a mentor is, review the answer to "Why is mentoring important?", and list several reasons to become a mentor.

Mentorship has a number of benefits both for the mentors, the mentees and organizations that engage in diverse mentoring processes. For the mentee, one way to keep yourself on track is to have a mentor, or someone who can help you navigate a challenge or move closer to a goal.