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0 By Amanda Ellen Nicola Jojo
MENTORSHIP is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool that ignites personalities, inspire possibilities and idealise what is yet to come.
Speaking to The Entrepreneurial Magazine, Founder of Connect With Mentors, Neddy Tanga said her organisation is on a drive to infuse passion and instill pride in the mentees pertaining their potential achievements and the future.
“What birthed the Connect With Mentors foundation is, I constantly being asked about how one gets a mentor because I always spoke about my mentors. I am a product of mentorship of men and women who took their time to guide and educate me.
“They helped me to discover who I am. So, when I approached organisations that spoke about being active in mentorship they really didn’t do much so I was like why not just have an organisation that deals with mentorship,” Neddy said.
Through Connect With Mentors, Neddy acknowledges the fact that the whole aspect of mentoring is a two-way street which is strengthened by a healthy relationship.
She said: “The idea is to help people identify mentors and benefit from those who have walked through the journey this organisation has helped me come up with my career guidance and we have connected people to mentors and done programs and teaching that equipped people with information and how to create a meaningful relationship on mentorship.”
Anchored on the founder’s aspiration of an emancipated youth generation, Connect With Mentors is also on a drive to help young people fulfil their aspirations by setting up realistic goals through career guidance which complements her mentorship drive.
Moreover, Neddy disclosed that she once experienced an identity crisis which then fueled her zeal to help others discover themselves.
“…the identity crisis I had was one of the reasons why I look out for others and have always wanted to help people understand purpose and unleash their potential and live the best versions of their lives.
“But I got to see that growing up I wanted to be many things and the schools I went to never really had career guidance. I liked certain professions because my friends liked them or I saw someone I admired liking the same and I liked it also. I was mainly focused on getting good grades.
“So that’s where my passion for career guidance and just looking out for young people came from. It’s a personal journey and I really would want someone to go through the same dilemma of finding out about a certain degree program in class. I figured that’s why most of us are bitter,” underscored Neddy
In addition, Neddy is a volunteer at Christ Ministries Children’s Home.
“Growing up I was fortunate to have parents who allowed me to be anything I wanted to be. They were very supportive and I appreciate that about them. I can’t say we are rich but growing up I never lacked all the important things, I went to school, I was never chased out for fees, I went to university an all my expenses were catered for.
“I understood this privilege and it always made me think about children in the children’s home, who looks out for them, who exposed them to opportunities, who will make sure that their lives and destinies are fulfilled so that’s how my love for charity work was birthed.
“Thus, I assist the children at Christ Ministries Children’s Home by seeking donations and empowerment programs that will equip the children with life skills that will gear them for sustainable survival after they leave the home,” Neddy said.
The young and vibrant Neddy is also the Vice President membership at Global Youth Toastmasters. She was recently selected as one of the delegates of World Youth Model United Nations 2022.
She believes that social media has got a lot of untapped potential to change lives for that reason, she is host of an online talk show called Transformational Talks With Neddy Neddy. The show seeks to inspire young people to cultivate positive mindsets.
“Social media is the most powerful tool we have to help us achieve our dreams and goals, it helps us connect with people who are km far away from us so as young people we have to use it wisely,” she said.
On the person she is today, Neddy’s childhood to some extent shaped her and it is during her formative years when she realised that her gratification came from seeing others win.
She said: “I honestly don’t remember much about my childhood, but what I remember most was that I wanted to do things right and I always looked out for others. I guess I always wanted to see others win.”
Career wise, Neddy is an industrial and manufacturing engineer and in 2021 she was featured among African women in the STEM industry which was headlined; “Why STEM project, the African women series.”
She is on a meteoric rise and to date she has bagged several accolades which include; Appreciation for Being Active In Science From Purple Trust And Next Ein, Nominee On Girl Child Empowerment By Ignite Youth (2020), Third Runner Up Career Coach By ICMF (2020) International Coaching And Mentorship Foundation, Nominee For Role Model Of The Year By Ignite Youth (2021) and Second Runner Up Entrepreneurship Coach For The Year By ICMF (2021).
