Basta project aims at bridging the gap between the different socio-economic classes in the society by pairing a lower class student with a professional or a university student
Basta project aims at bridging the gap between the different socio-economic classes in the society by pairing a lower class student with a professional or a university student. According to recent estimate only 11% students in Pakistan go on to a university education, this low Percentage is largely due to lack of resources and awareness regarding the need and benefits of getting a university degree. The connection made between individuals who are either university graduates or currently enrolled in a university and the aspiring students of the lower classes can potentially create the necessary drive in the lower class students to pursue higher education. Basta project aims to provide basic career development skills to students in under-resourced communities with the focus on creating access and long term sustainable support to the students; this support is in the form of financial assistance and professional guidance. The relationship between the mentor and the mentee will ideally focus on two major aspects:
- Professional guidance (Access)
- Financial Assistance
Profile of the mentors Each mentor, upon signing up with the Basta Project, will develop a profile on the digital platform. This profile will have the basic information of the mentor, their academic history, work experience, line of work, reasons for becoming a mentor etc. The Mentor will be able to update the profile themselves.
Student profiles Once the mentor profile is ready, the basta Project team will then assign the student profile that the mentor is paired with to the mentor. The student profile will have detailed information on the student containing, academic progress, financial background, academic background of the family, career ambitions, ambitions of parents related to the student etc. This information will be continuously updated by the Basta project team so the Mentor is able to assess the extent of the support and guidance needed to the student.
Sharing of evaluation after each session During each session, the mentors and mentees are required to undertake certain activities that help shape up the understanding of the student regarding their career projects. The mentors will be required to update this information on the online portal after each session to help them develop a concise understanding of the growth and development of the student.
Financial Transparency One component of the Basta Project is financial support to the student. When the student profile will be paired with the mentor, a dedicated account in the name of the student will be opened. Each mentor is encouraged to pay at least Rs. 1000 per month in favour of the student. During the course of the 6 sessions this amount will also cover some of the basic costs of conducting the mentorship sessions. The remaining amount will be deposited in this dedicated amount in name of the student and updated on the portal. This account will sustain even after the ending of the mentorship sessions, depending upon the willingness of the mentor to pay. The mentor can decide to keep supporting the student financially and through this portal remain updated regarding the financial needs of the student.
Each mentor will be required to complete at least 40 hours of mentoring over the time span of 4-6 months with a 4 hour meeting each month. During the course of these meetings at least 2 hour is superficially dedicated towards career counseling. Each meeting has a specific agenda and the mentor is required to achieve the goals of the specific meeting before proceeding to the next agenda. This is to ensure that the mentor-mentee relationship is effective and adds value to the student’s career development.