International Women’s Day was a little brighter in Shepparton this year as eight women graduated from the Flamingo Project’s mentorship program.
With a mission to connect women from all walks of life, the volunteer-run Flamingo Project was founded by Shepparton’s Neha Samar in September last year.
Six months on, four pairs have completed the Women Mentorship Program, taking with them growth, knowledge and life-long relationships.
The free program is mentor/mentee-led, meaning it is a flexible arrangement for those who join, with one main objective: connection.
“So much can happen if women just talk to each other, if they just share their experiences and I think the program was just an excuse to connect people together,” Ms Samar said.
She said she was continually blown away by the dedication of women in the region and hoped to continue the project for years to come.
The bond formed between Sonia Strachen and Rutu Shukla is living proof of the program’s success.
But the initial idea came as a bit of a shock to both of them.
Ms Strachen said prior to the program she had never considered herself much of a mentor.
“A friend suggested it and I sort of laughed about it thinking, ‘What have I got to offer somebody in relation to a mentoring program?’,” she said.
“Going through COVID, a lot of people lost opportunities for connection and it made me reflect on my experience, and in my job I’d been very fortunate to have a couple of people who became unofficial mentors to me in work and in life.
“I reflect back on that, and they've been quite instrumental in my career and my personal life; I thought maybe I do have something to offer and I can bring some of that to somebody else that was given to me.”
Ms Strachen works as a prostate cancer specialist nurse in Shepparton and has more than 25 years of nursing experience up her sleeve.
Much of her wisdom has been a blessing to her mentee, who recently made a career change from engineering to study nursing.
Mrs Shukla said she never actually opted in to become a mentee, it was only once Ms Strachen applied for the program that founder Ms Samar saw the potential in the match.
Mrs Shukla came to Australia from India in 2019 to study a Masters in Aviation, but due to COVID-19, the aviation industry came to a halt.
Inspired by the medical staff who assisted her in the birth of her son, Mrs Shukla began her studies in nursing ‒ a transition made all the easier with Ms Strachen’s guidance.
“Now I have someone who I can look up to who is very experienced in their career and she is willing to help me without any expectations from me,” Mrs Shukla said.
“Connections are made, I didn't know who this person or this family was six months ago, and now we are connected as a family, friends and family.
“The program has ended, but I don't think the relationship or the bond that we have made will end.”
Mrs Shukla said Ms Samar and the Flamingo Project continued to give women in the region support and opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
“We don’t have much support in any industry for women, I don’t know why, but we lack that support and that mentorship when it comes to careers,” she said.
“This program has empowered women by channelling the energy of mentors to share their experiences with mentees.
“Connections help build up connections.”
For more information on the Flamingo Project, visit https://theflamingoproject.com.au/ or its Facebook page.