Rudina – North Macedonian mentor
Name: Rudina Pashholli
Country: North Macedonia
What is your background?
– I hold a BA in International Relations and Diplomacy. I have been working in the civil society sector since 2012 working on many projects in the area of youth, culture, human rights and gender issues in rural and urban communities.
Why did you become a mentor?
– Back in 2014, I was a participant in the ITP “Local Democracy with Gender Perspective” organised by ICLD. It was one of the most significant training I have attended, it shaped my early career and motivated me to keep working on gender equality, human rights and democracy. Since then I continued to follow ICLD’s work, that is how I decided to become a mentor and share my experience with others.
Why do you like to mentor?
– Being a mentor of the ITP Human Rights-Based Approach gave me a chance to contribute to a specific project, as I mentor a team in North Macedonia in the process of implementing a Change Project. It is a booster for widening the perspective and learning more through mentoring.
What are the success factors for building dynamic, inclusive and professional mentoring culture?
– Following a plan and being organised is what keeps me going in my everyday tasks. I believe it requires a bit of diplomacy as well, as team members are often well-prepared professionals, skilled and ambitious people. I consider mentoring an opportunity of exchanging knowledge too, therefore having a down to earth attitude I believe contributes to building a stronger and more trustful relationship with the team.
What is the most challenging thing while being a mentor?
– We started this ITP in difficult times, as the world was closed not only in terms of borders and travelling but also in terms of interactions with colleagues. I felt like my team and I became closer once we met face to face, it was easier to discuss, work together or even just brainstorm ideas. I find it challenging sometimes to find the right wording in order to sound both diplomatic and also politically correct so to say when giving feedback or suggestions. However, my team has enormous experience and background therefore I sometimes feel that a significant part is monitoring and suggesting some light changes in what they are already doing.
What is your passion in life?
– I have always had a passion for social change, living in a post-break-up of Yugoslavia and then experiencing the fall and the subsequent wars that followed that fragmentation. The social upheaval caused by those events has meant that I have always had a drive and passion for social change, engagement and developing the skills to be able to make a difference in my community and the wider world.