The Global Youth Development Initiative (GYDI) matches students and other young people from different cultures with mentors from other cultures.
In many secondary and post-secondary schools, mentorship programs are offered to support students in program completion, confidence building and transitioning to further 
education or the workforce. Modern technology has made it possible to create useful mentoring relationships amongst people of different cultures.
Multiculturalism describes the existence, acceptance, and/or promotion of multiple cultural traditions. Multicultural ideologies and policies vary widely, ranging from the advocacy of equal respect to the various cultures in a society, to a policy of promoting the maintenance of cultural diversity.
Multiculturalism promotes maintaining the distinctiveness of multiple cultures.
The Global Youth Development Initiative (GYDI will match students and other young people from different cultures with mentors from other cultures.
In our day-to-day lives, we are often oblivious to the sheer volume of influencers and social cues that shape the way that we behave in professional environments. Our personal and professional growth far extends the confines of our work environments; instead, our interactions with our peers, our admiration of our role models, and our access and exposure to the successes of those around us are significant contributors to how we grow.
In less stable environments, opportunities for professional growth in these capacities can be limited. Particularly in economies where the demand for professional work is limited, it can be difficult to learn so candidly the skills and social cues that are requisites for success in the modern job market.
The Global Youth Development Initiative aims to step in where such a gap exists. Basing the pilot programme in Afghanistan, the GYDI seeks to connect students from across Afghanistan at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) in Kabul with mentors across the globe and across various disciplines. Connections unlikely to have been made without such an initiative, the GYDI will act as the platform for these students to find the professional and cultural frames of reference they need to be competitive in the global economy. Where the supply of mentors from professional disciplines may be limited in Afghanistan, particularly in its current volatile climate, our programme aims to facilitate the conversations and relationships necessary for these students to build strong networks and achieve their professional goals.
This mentoring programme will highlight the 1-year commitment of mentors and mentees, providing monthly themes, goals, and evaluation criteria. The GYDI is tailored to the cultural sensitivities and social climate of the community we are servicing, and will ensure exceptional organization and structure to best suit mentor and mentee needs. The GYDI seeks to ensure that both parties to the relationship will graduate the program with a sense of accomplishment and confidence.
Mission
The mission of the Multicultural Mentoring Community is to create supportive one-to-one virtual mentoring relationships for students around the world.
The Program focuses on these four areas, specifically as they relate to multicultural awareness:
- Increased self-awareness
- Value-based goal setting
- Enhanced sense of belonging and self-esteem
- Academic skill development
- Career path development.
The Global Youth Development Initiative is a programme designed to assist aspiring young professionals in conflict and post-conflict zones with the development of their leadership, employability, and networking skills.
Basing the 2017 pilot program in Afghanistan, the GYDI seeks to connect students from universities across Afghanistan with mentors across the globe and across various disciplines. This program will act as the platform for these students to find the professional and cultural frames of reference they need to be competitive in the global economy. Where the supply of mentors from professional disciplines may be limited in Afghanistan, particularly in its current volatile climate, our program aims to facilitate the conversations and relationships necessary for these students to build strong networks and achieve their professional goals.
In 2018, we moved forward with a second group of Mentees that widened our scope to include students from countries in conflict. We have also expanded by including teen school students, and not just university students. Although still serving, primarily, the Afghan community, we welcome our new mentees from all over the world. We pair students with mentors from different parts of the world.
We are very grateful to all who dedicate their time, skills, and effort to contribute to our success.
Valenti Law 