The Wilkins Family Foundation (WFF) has organised its first-ever Mentors Training Workshop, bringing together 25 professional women to support WFF scholars in a two-day intensive program held in Port Vila on September 1 and 2.

Fifteen WFF scholars currently studying in Vila participated in the inaugural event, which focused on equipping mentors with best-practice techniques, including active listening, constructive feedback, empathy, problem solving, and self-management. The training took place at the Vanuatu Christian Council compound.

WFF’s Mentoring Manager, Kathy Solomon, who coordinated the event, said she was excited to enlist the support of such a talented group of women.

“Our aim is to build the skills and self-confidence of each of our scholars to become the best versions of themselves and to take on leadership roles in their future careers. One-to-one mentoring is a really effective way to provide continuing support to them through their learning journey and into adulthood,” she explained.

Sallie Latella (née Wilkins), a director of the Foundation and co-facilitator of the workshop, praised the enthusiasm and commitment of participants.

“They really support the work of the Foundation, which is identifying and developing girls from the islands to be future leaders in Vanuatu. They see their involvement as an important opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience in a practical way, to support girls and young women to succeed,” she said.

Latella added that the Foundation was proud to have trained professional women from Malekula, Vila, Santo, and Paama.

“Our scholars are of different ages—some are still in school, others in technical colleges, universities, or internships. It has always been our dream to develop a mentoring program that helps young women reach their goals and achieve their dreams. We hope to see this program expanded and adopted nationwide in schools and educational institutions.”

Among the mentors was Delma Joel, Acting Principal of Beverly Hills Primary School and a mentor to WFF-sponsored scholars. She said the workshop gave her valuable insights.

“I really appreciate this workshop because it has shown us how to mentor girls to achieve their goals. I have learned a lot, built more confidence, and enhanced my knowledge on how best to support them. Many girls are struggling, and this mentoring program can help them find a way forward,” she said.

Eslyne Turner, a mentor from Santo with years of experience in business management, also described the training as an important initiative.

“Young people need mentors to guide them in their education and professional paths. I have mentored two or three women who are now successful businesswomen, and I’ve also worked with business owners to strengthen management practices. Mentoring is a powerful tool to help both individuals and businesses grow,” she said.

The Wilkins Family Foundation was established in 2018 in memory of Darvall and Ida Wilkins to provide education and learning opportunities for disadvantaged girls and young women in rural and remote Vanuatu. Working with partners in Vanuatu and Australia, the Foundation currently supports 28 scholars studying at schools in MALAMPA, Santo, and Vila, with eight graduates now pursuing tertiary education at institutions including the University of Fiji, University of the South Pacific, Vanuatu Institute of Technology, and National University of Vanuatu, as well as internships.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST