Kababayan Academic Mentorship Program

Being a KAMP mentor and being there every week for the KAMP mentees made me realize that I can make a difference in someone else’s life through simple deeds. I could feel that the mentees expected me to be there every session, so I tried my best to do so because I didn’t want to let them down. Week after week, I got to know my group of mentees, as well as other mentees in the program, very well. I was able to laugh with them, eat snacks with them and casually talk with them. I was able to know their dreams and struggles, and actually be their friend.

I enjoyed my time with KAMP as a mentor, and I would encourage anyone who is remotely interested to sign up as a mentor and see the impact you can make in someone else’s life.

As a new immigrant in Canada, it was nice to have a mentorship program like KAMP. The program helped me adjust to a new environment without feeling overwhelmed. More importantly, it taught me what it means to stay committed in whatever I get myself involved with, which at the time meant committing my Fridays to learn and participate in KAMP’s activities, while making new friends. What we learned in KAMP were not just lessons we could apply in school, but also lessons we could apply in our everyday lives to become a better individuals.

The KAMP mentors, Tita Joy, and my fellow mentees all helped me gain more self-confidence by believing in my own skills. Through KAMP’s activities, I learned to work with different people with different personalities, which later prepared me to face the world outside of school. I am and always will be proud to be a part of KAMP, and I will always remember everything it taught me to a better person in a new country without having to give up my Filipino values.

I joined KAMP when I first migrated to Canada. The program not only helped me meet new friends, it also helped me adjust to Canada’s culture and environment.

The program also facilitated different workshops, such as understanding the Canadian school system and teaching us how to prepare for post-secondary. The KAMP mentors were always available to tutor students who needed help on their schoolwork. KAMP, though, was not just about academic mentoring and workshops, we also had fun playing games!

This is why I did not hesitate with I had the opportunity to join KAMP again, but now as a mentor, I am able to give back and share my experiences to secondary students, and help them in the best way I can.