The Climate Leader Mentoring Program, free thanks to our volunteers, is a 3 month journey, in which the mentee regularly works with a mentor at a mutually agreed time to move towards the goals you define at the beginning. As a mentee, your might want to start with our self-assessment to get a comprehensive view of your project’s situation and then focus on what would make the biggest difference given where you are right now.

We welcome everybody, regardless of your level of experience, or whether your project is just starting out or already well underway – we’re here to give climate projects a leg up!

To get an impression of what some of our mentees have been up to, please read on. If you are looking for specific FAQs about the program, click here.

Listen to Kathy Ehmann speak about her project and her experience with the Climate Leader Mentoring Program:

To get a better impression of the breadth, varing stages and range of projects we have mentored in the past, check out the recording of one of our past Climate Project Zoom-Cases.

When can I start?

Right away! Just reach out to us through our contact page and we’ll get back you in the next few days to arrange an initial conversation of about 30 minutes. You’ll find out how the program works, what you can expect and what we expect of you, and you can decide if the program is for you. Within a few days, we’ll match you with a mentor and share your contact details with them. Your program begins when you have your first session with your mentor.

What does it cost?

The Climate Leader Mentoring Program is free, thanks to our volunteers.

We value reciprocity and circular entery flows, so we appreciate it if you consider being a mentor once you have completed your own program.

I’m a bit disillusioned about my project – is it a good idea to join then?

There are many factors that might contribute to you losing your passion for your project: perhaps you’ve realized that people don’t seem enthusiastic about your idea, perhaps you didn’t achieve a specific goal you had set for yourself or maybe there’s just more work to be done than you can handle.

If that is the case, there are two different perspectives from which to look at your situation: what are the facts (what has been accomplished and what hasn’t? How much time are you investing on a regular basis and does that work for your other commitments in life? …) and what conclusions have you come to? Left to your own devices, your conclusions could be hijacked by your emotions (i.e. the experience of failing or being overwhelmed). Taking the time to look at the circumstances from many angles together with a mentor who is on your side will allow you to gain a bit of distance, distinguish facts, look at cause and effect and learn from the past. At the end, you may have discovered new ways to tackle your project that energize you and achieve better outcomes – or you may decide to complete your project instead of letting it drag on zapping your resources.

My project is still an idea?

We are happy to support fledgling projects! Attempting to find out how to turn an inspiring idea into reality requires a lot of perseverence, investigation, learning – and lots of conversations with people who can help, be it with experience, funding, time and yet more ideas.

A mentor can be invaluable – not necessarily because they have done that type of project before, but because they can stand back and look at the bigger picture, help you sort through what you need to consider and which actions to take to gain more clarity and build support.

Can I find out more about the program structure?

Sure! You can find the description here.

Who are the mentors?

Our mentors are extraordinary in that they enjoy giving their time, attention and energy to supporting others and that they have a big commitment to our environment. They will make their best effort to provide a safe space for you to share what’s really going on, help you sort through options and ideas, have your back and believe in you – and ask you how you did on what you had promised in the previous call.

Our mentors are human in that they come from many backgrounds and life experiences. They may of may not have an understanding of your project’s topic or the administrative hurdles ahead of you. Please be aware that they are not legal or financial advisors and that all decisions you make remain your responsibility.

Meet some of our mentors past and present here.

What if the mentoring relationship isn’t working?

As we have all learned in the recent past, life has a way of throwing us curveballs, so even with the best of intentions, your circumstances may change and you may not be able to make the mentoring program work right now. Or the chemistry between you and your mentor just isn’t there. Whatever the reason, it is actually a sign of respect to acknowledge if the relationship isn’t working and drop us a line so we can inform your mentor – we hate waste in all forms.

Feel free to join us again at the next intake or when your circumstances change!

What kind of projects have been mentored in this program?

Here some of the projects that have been mentored by the Climate Leader Mentroing Program:

• Waitītiko – Meola Creek – St Lukes Environmental Protection Society (STEPS) – Auckland, New Zealand
• Holt Micro-Forest – Holt, ACT
• Climate Cicadas – Brisbane, QLD
• Community Toolbox – Canberra, ACT
• Create an NGO to plant trees and reduce water usage – Mumbai, India
• Dealing with organic waste in an apartment complex – Melbourne, VIC
• Bee hotels – Canberra, ACT
• Community Solar in Canada Bay – Sydney, NSW