The Postcards Mentorship Programme is a time-bound, cohort based mentorship initiative for individuals in public policy, and related fields.

This is not a casual or open-ended mentorship space. It is a minimum 6-month engagement with defined expectations, timelines, and boundaries.

This programme is designed to help participants think clearly about their career paths, understand how institutions work, and make better professional decisions.

We are running it as a pilot and are only looking for a small number of pairs at the moment.

This Programme is open to

• College students
• Recent graduates
• Early-career professionals

⭐What This Programme Focuses On

The mentorship focuses on strategic guidance, not technical training.

This means conversations will centre on:

• Career decisions such as choosing between policy and its allied fields
• Navigating career transitions
• Understanding how to navigate professional spaces, including unspoken norms, power dynamics, and expectations
• Building credibility in professional environments
• Navigating identity-linked challenges in workplaces and institutions, especially for those from marginalised or underrepresented backgrounds
• Thinking through long-term career growth, not just immediate opportunities

✨Who This Programme Prioritises

This is a free-of-cost, community-driven initiative.

Selection gives preference to individuals facing structural barriers, including:

• LGBTQIA+ individuals
• Persons with disabilities, including invisible disabilities and neurodivergence
• First-generation learners
• Individuals from low-income or single parent backgrounds
• Dalit, Bahujan, Adivasi communities and other marginalised social groups
• Religious minorities
• Individuals from rural areas
• People from conflict-affected regions
• Individuals from geographically isolated regions, where access to networks, institutions, and opportunities is limited

Selection is based on both need and clarity of intent.

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Conversations may look like

• how to present yourself in rooms where you may not feel represented
• how to respond to bias, exclusion, or being overlooked
• how to make decisions when opportunities come with trade-offs
• how to build confidence and professional presence over time

Mentors will help you think better and decide better, not do the work for you.

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What This Programme Does Not Offer

To avoid confusion, please read this carefully before applying:

• Mentors will not edit your CV, SOP, or research papers
• Mentors will not write applications or provide drafting support
• Mentors will not provide therapy or emotional counselling
• Mentors will not guarantee jobs, internships, or placements

Some mentors may choose to give limited technical input or connect you to other individuals in the relevant network, but this is not expected and not guaranteed.

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📜Structure of the Programme

Duration: 6 months

Format: Hybrid

• One-on-one mentorship (core)
• Group sessions (on )

1:1 Mentorship

• Two sessions per month (mandatory)
• Additional sessions only if both mentor and mentee agree
• Each mentee is paired with one mentor

Matching Process

Each mentee is matched with a mentor based on:

• Sector and expertise
• Background and lived experience
• The specific problem or transition the mentee is facing

🖥️Sessions Overview

This is a mentee-led programme.

This means:

• Mentees are responsible for setting the agenda
• Mentees must come prepared with specific questions
• Mentors respond to defined concerns, not vague discussions

Before every session, mentees must submit a pre-session note at least 48 hours in advance.

This note must include:

• What you are currently working on
• Where you are stuck
• What you have tried so far
• What has changed since the last session
• What specific guidance you need

If the note is not submitted on time, the session may be cancelled.

Rules of Communication

• All sessions will take place only via Google Meet links scheduled by the mentee
• WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media communication is discouraged unless both parties agree on that
• No informal or unscheduled calls
• Mentors are not available on demand

These rules exist to maintain professionalism and safety.

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