Mentoring project raises funds for international trip

Created to connect BA (Hons) Criminology and BSc (Hons) Criminal Investigation with Psychology students at Solent University with pupils at the Cambodian Children's Fund's (CCF) Neeson Cripps Academy in Phnom Penh, the project is entering its second year following initial success in 2024.

On the experience and impact of becoming a mentor, Katie Pegden, who was part of the first cohort at Solent, says:

"Our task as mentors is to motivate and empower our mentees to reach their potential in subjects that society does not consider them to study, and I have really enjoyed speaking with my mentee fortnightly; checking in with her and learning about her culture. My mentee's hardworking nature and talent amidst her tough early childhood have, in turn, motivated me to push myself."

Now, to cement bonds created online, across cultures and more than 6,000 miles, Solent and the Cambodian Children's Fund is raising money to bring mentors and mentees together, in person, in Cambodia.

On Saturday 18 April, students and staff at Solent University will walk around 35km in one day, from Durdle Door to Old Harry Rocks along the famous Jurassic Coast. Navigating the challenging terrain of the beautiful South West Coast Path, the group aim to raise £10,000 to send student mentors to Cambodia in the summer and make a donation to the CCF.

Pairing mentors at Solent with mentees at the Neeson Cripps Academy - a flagship school for STEM subjects that breaks down barriers to education - this scheme aims to champion cultural exchange and inspire young women from Cambodia's least advantaged communities to pursue their goals. Veronica Wasik, Criminology student and volunteer mentor in the second cohort, says:

"This project gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both the education and future of students in Cambodia. I think that mentoring can create amazing opportunities, allowing students in Cambodia to develop their full potential and achieve their goals whilst having someone there supporting and vouching for them."

Spearheading the programme is Solent's Senior Lecturer Criminology, Nigel Lee, who has supported the CCF for more than a decade. He says:

"The success of the initial scheme is down to the dedication and commitment of our student mentors. They are the reason, and I am so proud of them and their ongoing enthusiasm to make a difference in the lives of young women at the Neeson Cripps Academy.

"If we can raise funds to help enable these students to meet and work with their mentees, as well as others at the Academy and within the CCF, we will reinforce the relationships developed, which we hope will continue way beyond the end of their time studying with us."

With the launch of the second wave, 10 Criminology undergraduates have now taken on the role of volunteer mentor, meeting with their mentee once a week online. Solent students have shared their gratitude for being able to learn about the experiences of women and girls in Phnom Penh, while advocating for the opportunities that higher education offers.

Mentors are supported by staff at both the University and CCF, who provide a suggested curriculum for mentoring sessions. A programme which is being adapted as it progresses, the second cohort of mentors have been matched based on shared interests, helping pairs to hit the ground running. This year's cohort also includes mature students, celebrating both the diversity and accessible nature of higher education. Marta Sadowska, who has just started her journey as a mentor, says:

"This programme is a blessing for both sides as it enhances so many new skills, including communication, leadership and confidence, as well as personal growth. This project will allow me to support young women pursuing careers in STEM subjects and show them that they don't have to fit into a stereotypical 'female' job in 2025."

Donations are gratefully received and can be made here.