The Mutual Support Network is how AVIDE translates the two words Mutual Support and Development from the Association’s mission statement into concrete action: where those with experience accompany newcomers in their careers, studies, and integration in Denmark. This document serves as a brief general agreement to ensure the program remains voluntary, benevolent, and effective. By participating in the Network, you agree to the following terms.
Purpose of Participation
- Mentees receive guidance and practical experience from individuals who have traversed similar paths, enabling them to make their own decisions and progress more swiftly.
- Mentors share their experience, expand their positive influence within the community, and learn from the younger generation.
- A member can serve as a mentor in one area and a mentee in another.
- The program is voluntary and unpaid. No one owes anything to anyone beyond mutual respect.
- If the journey proves beneficial, mentees may express their gratitude through a voluntary donation to the Association’s Fund; the entire amount goes to the Fund, and mentors do not receive remuneration. Both the mentor’s time contribution and the mentee’s goodwill are acknowledged by the Association.
How to Participate Effectively
- Mentee Proactivity: Set 3-6 month goals, propose meeting schedules, and prepare three points before each session: what has been done, what challenges are being faced, and what is needed from this session.
- Recommended Frequency: Meet once every 2-4 weeks, for 45-60 minutes per session, via AVIDE’s MS Teams channel or in person.
- Mentor Facilitation, Not Intervention: Ask questions, share experiences, introduce resources; decisions and actions are the mentee’s responsibility.
- Purposeful Conclusion: After 3-6 months or upon achieving goals, both parties should review the outcomes, thank each other, and click “Request to Conclude Journey” in the ‘My Mutual Support Pair’ section (select a reason, and the coordinating committee will confirm). Concluding at the right time signifies a successful pairing, not a failure.
- After each session, click the “We just had an activity” button in the ‘My Mutual Support Pair’ section to inform the program that the pair is progressing well.
Mutual Support Agreement and Pair Nomenclature
- The official designations within the Network are Mentor and Mentee. Within each pair, both parties may agree upon optional informal forms of address (e.g., master – apprentice), and each individual can specify their preferred designation directly in the registration form.
- Upon connection, both parties will receive a Mutual Support Agreement email detailing designations, contact information, and referring to these Rules. Each party must click the confirmation button in the email or in the ‘My Mutual Support Pair’ section; these Rules constitute the general terms of the agreement, including prohibited actions and AVIDE’s scope of responsibility outlined below.
Commitments of Both Parties
- Respect each other’s time: confirm schedules and provide as much advance notice as possible if changes are needed.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding private information shared by the other party.
- Communicate officially via AVIDE’s MS Teams channel to enable program support when necessary.
- Should either party find the pairing unsuitable, either party may click “Request to Conclude Journey” in the ‘My Mutual Support Pair’ section: the pairing will be immediately paused, the coordinating committee will confirm, and arrange an alternative connection. No lengthy explanation is required, and no one will be blamed.
Prohibited Actions
- Exploiting the mutual support relationship to promote products, services, multi-level marketing schemes, or engage in undisclosed for-profit recruitment.
- Harassment, discrimination, or disrespectful language and behavior in any form.
- Lending or borrowing money between mentor and mentee.
- Promising specific outcomes regarding employment, visas, or scholarships on behalf of competent authorities.
- Sharing the other party’s contact information or private stories with a third party without their consent.
Scope of AVIDE’s Responsibility
- AVIDE connects mentors with mentees, provides the program framework and communication channels; AVIDE is not responsible for the content of advice exchanged between the two parties.
- A mentor’s sharing is personal experience and does not substitute for professional legal, financial, medical, or immigration advice.
- AVIDE does not guarantee job application outcomes, academic results, or any other results, and is not involved in private agreements between the two parties outside the program.
Handling Violations
The coordinating committee reserves the right to suspend or terminate a pairing, or to remove an individual from the program, in the event of a violation of the above terms. Serious cases will be handled in accordance with the Association’s Statutes. All feedback should be sent to [email protected]; feedback will be handled discreetly.
Personal Data
The information you provide to the program will be used solely for the purpose of connecting mentors and mentees and for program operation, in accordance with the Association’s Privacy Policy. This document may be updated by the Executive Board; the current version will always be available on this page.