Tent's Resource Hub for Mentors
and Company Coordinators
Tent Partnership For Refugees
With more and more refugees displaced for longer periods of time, businesses have a critical role to play in helping refugees integrate economically in their new communities. Tent was launched in 2016 by Hamdi Ulukaya, the CEO and founder of Chobani – a multibillion dollar food company in the U.S. – to mobilize global businesses to fill this gap by helping connect refugees to work. Today, Tent is a network of over 400 major companies committed to hiring, training, and mentoring refugees. Find out more at www.tent.org.
Thank you for stepping up to mentor a refugee!
We are grateful you are taking the time to be part of this program and make a positive impact in the life of a refugee. This section will familiarize you with Tent’s mentorship program, and help you prepare to start this meaningful journey with your mentee.
Before you begin the onboarding, please watch this video about why mentorship matters.
Start onboarding here
To get you started, we have put together a checklist for your first 30 days as a mentor:
Step 1: Review the mentorship guide
Step 2: Attend mentor training or watch training video online
Step 3: Connect with your company coordinator
Step 4: Reach out to your mentee to introduce yourself and schedule your first meeting
Find out more information about each of the steps below.
1. Review the Mentorship Guide for your relevant mentorship program
With our partners, Tent has created comprehensive guidebooks for each program that provide step-by-step guidance on how to navigate the mentorship process, including best practices for communicating with your mentee, strategies to set your mentee up for success, and recommendations for topics to cover in each session:
Mentorship Guides by Tent Partnership for Refugees
Before reaching out to your mentee, make sure you complete Tent’s mentor training to learn more about the needs of refugee mentees as it relates to professional development and tips on how to be a great mentor. There are two ways to do this - 1. by joining a group training session, or 2. by watching a training video (linked below).
If you are joining the mentorship program at a time when a mentor training session is not scheduled (or you would like a refresher), please download the presentation below while you watch one of our previously recorded training webinars:
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for LGBTQ Refugees in North America
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for LGBTQ Refugees in the UK
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for Refugee Women in Europe
Capacitación para empresas sobre el programa de mentoría para refugiados LGBTQ
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for Afghan Refugees in US
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for Ukrainian Refugees in Poland
Szkolenie dla mentorów - Program mentoringowy Tent Partnership for Refugees
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for Refugee Women in the US
Programa de Tent de Mentoría a Mujeres Refugiadas: Formación de Mentores en Europa
Training Video for Mentors Participating in the Mentorship Program for Hispanic Refugees in the US
2. Attend a mentor training session or watch the mentor training video for the mentorship program you are participating in
3. Connect with your company coordinator
Company coordinators play a critical role in supporting and recruiting mentors participating in Tent’s mentorship programs. As the main point of contact between mentors and Tent, they are responsible for identifying potential mentors and encouraging them to participate in the program. They also provide essential communication and logistical support, ensuring that mentors have access to the resources and information they need to succeed.
Additionally, company coordinators help to monitor the progress of mentor/mentee pairs, gather feedback, and provide ongoing support to help mentors navigate any challenges that may arise during the program.
When you are matched with a mentee, Tent will send you an email with details on next steps. Your company coordinator(s) will also be included in the email. You are encouraged to maintain regular contact with your company coordinator throughout the program.
4. Reach out to your mentee
After you've completed mentor training and have reached out to your company coordinator, it's time to connect with your mentee! This is an exciting step, and it's crucial to establish clear communication and build a strong foundation from the outset. In your initial email to your mentee, we recommend introducing yourself, sharing a bit about your background and experience, and expressing your enthusiasm about the mentorship program.
Click the button below to download a draft email template you can use to reach out to your mentee. It’s important that mentors use this email template as it explains how you received their contact information, but please feel free to inject your personality into the email as you wish!
*If your mentee does not respond to your first email, please email them again and then try sending them a text or Whatsapp message. If they don’t respond after those three attempts, please complete the form below. Upon receiving your completed form, Tent will attempt to reach your mentee on your behalf or ask their referring organization to check with them if they are still interested in the mentorship program. If your mentee has new priorities or chooses not to confirm their interest within 2 weeks, we will reach out to you about a rematch with a new mentee.