1. UYMP Frequently Asked Questions
About the most frequently asked questions
Q1. What benefit can I get?
 Tested wisdom especially from senior entrepreneurs
 Networking with fellow youths and senior citizens
 New customers, suppliers, and solutions to challenges
 Access to information on business funding, opportunities
 Professional contacts and their advice
Q2.What is object of this program?
The objective for UYMP is to empower youths for Ugandan youth’s achievement of the
“Sustainable Business” through promoting mentoring and networking with local successful
entrepreneurs and other senior citizens. The Mentors have experienced the similar step in
advance, so youths can learn and be encouraged from them.
Q3.What UYMP do for me specifically?
About Joining
Q3.Who is eligible to join UYMP?
UYMP targets youths below 35yrs of age, youths who can read and understand English, young
entrepreneurs, youths who wish to start business soon or later, both ladies and gentlemen.
Q4.Can I join even if am above 35years old?
Yes you can. Although UYMP's target groups are youths below 35 years old, we allow ladies or
gentlemen who find our programs relevant to them or their businesses.
Q5.Can I join even If don’t have my own business now?
Yes you can. UYMP aspires to encourage as many young people towards entrepreneurship as
possible. In fact, it is our U-Link club policy to ensure that some of the 12 member team is non-
business owners with the aim of encouraging them to start businesses.
About Mentoring
Q6. Why mentor?
The idea of Youth Mentoring comes from the need to empower young people to be self-sustaining
instead of waiting on government & depending on parents even after graduating.
The increasing number of redundant youths is becoming a matter of national security considering
the high level of involvement in crime & riots. UYMP aims at reducing this threat through
encouraging senior entrepreneurs to empower & inspire, youths towards Entrepreneurship.
Q7. Why the Urgency to Mentor?
In Uganda, 56.1% of the population is below the age of 18yrs. Those below 30 years are over 25
million, well over 70 per cent of the population. Uganda needs close to 16 million jobs and, that
number will double by 2025, with the country requiring 28 million jobs.
By "Empowering The Next Generation" UYMP hopes to inspire millions of youths to start and run their
own businesses sustainably while creating more jobs for fellow youths.

2. Q8.What is “Mentoring”? Is it same as “Coaching” or “Training”?
Mentoring?
Mentoring is most often defined as a structured relationship in which an experienced person (the
mentor) assists a less experienced person (the mentee) in developing specific skills and knowledge
that will enhance his/her professional and personal growth.
What does a mentor do?
The following are among the mentor’s functions:
o Teaches the mentee about a specific issue
o Facilitates the mentee’s growth by sharing resources and networks
o Challenges the mentee to move beyond his or her comfort zone
o Creates a safe learning environment for taking risks and realizing potential
o Focuses on the mentee’s total development professionally and individually.
Are mentoring and coaching identical?
No. Though related, they are not the same. A mentor may coach, but a coach is not a mentor.
Mentoring is “relational,” while coaching is “functional.” There are other significant differences.
Coaching characteristics:
o Managers coach all of their staff as a required part of the job
o Coaching takes place within the confines such as a formal manager-employee
relationship
o Focuses on developing individuals within their current jobs
o Interest is functional, arising out of the need to ensure that individuals can perform the
tasks required to the best of their abilities
o Relationship tends to be initiated and driven by an individual’s manager
o Relationship is finite - ends as an individual transfers to another job
Mentoring characteristics:
o Takes place outside of a line manager-employee relationship, at the mutual consent of a
mentor and the person being mentored
o Is career-focused or focuses on professional & personal development that may be
outside a mentee’s area of work
o Relationship is personal - a mentor provides both professional and personal support
o Relationship may be initiated by a mentee or created through a match initiated by an
organization like UYMP
o Relationship crosses job boundaries to personal interests and development.
o Relationship may last for a specific period of time (UYMP's 12 months) in a formal
program, at which point the pair may continue in an informal mentoring relationship
Q9. How can I choose my mentor?
Mentors are reasonably mature and successful senior citizens with at least 5 years of experience in
the activity you want to be mentored in. They can be your relatives, family friends, neighbours, icons,
role models or local entrepreneurs easily accessible to you.
Q10.Can UYMP introduce me to my preferred mentor? How UYMP link youths to mentoring?
Yes. Through our club coordinators and using UYMP standardized letters, we can introduce you to
your preferred mentor. We however prefer that you introduce yourself to your mentor as the best
way to kick start your mentoring relationship.
Q11. Why should I get mentor by myself?

3. UYMP prefers that you choose your own mentor because we believe you deserve a role model with
whom you are comfortable with. We also believe that you can make a better decision based on your
areas of weakness for which you seek to be mentored.
Q12.Who can be mentor?
To be a mentor, you must:
 Be willing to mentor, inspire, and encourage a young person without expecting monetary rewards.
 Have at least 5years of experience as a business owner.
 Be a person of integrity and well respected in the community he lives and works.
 Commit to spending at least 15 minutes in a one-on-one mentoring session with a mentee per
month for at least 12 months
 Attend an initial training session or at least must read and understand the scope of the UYMP
initiative.
You should also be:
 A willing listener
 Encouraging and supportive
 Patient and flexible
 Tolerant and respectful of individual differences
As a mentor, you will:
 Support a young person through an on-going one-on-one relationship.
 Serve as a positive role model and friend.
 Help him/her plan and execute effective management of his business.
 Build self-esteem and motivation in a young person.
 Help your mentee set goals and work toward accomplishing them.
 Know that you are making a difference
 Receive personal fulfilment from empowering young people.
Q13.What kinds of support do mentors receive?
The young men and ladies under this program will appreciate their mentors in their own ways and at least
one mentor per month as a club. In addition to the ensuring their comfort with the program scope, the
UYMP Secretariat will organize national events annually to thank and appreciate mentors under this
initiative.
Mentors will receive:
 Initial training through documentations and club initiation meetings.
 Complimentary tickets to community events when available
 On-going support and supervision to help the mentoring match succeed.
Others
Q14.Can UYMP give me finance for my business?
No. UYMP's Mission is to ''empower the next generation'' and so we can only capitalize your
business with the wisdom and the rich network passed on to you from your mentors and club mates.
UYMP also passes on to you all the information we receive regarding the various funding sources.
Q15.Does UYMP teach me the necessary business skills?
UYMP through its E-Clubs invites professional and experienced business practitioners and trainers to
teach you proper business management and skills. Through FinAfrica, more comprehensive business
skills training are arranged for a discounted fee for UYMP Members.
Q16.Can I see the existent of youth UYMP club activity?

4. Yes especially if you are a member. UYMP through its structures ensures that each member finds our
efforts, activities and events very informative and helpful.
Q17.Can I join more than 1year?
Yes you can. UYMP officially runs a 1 year cycle of mentoring relationships but allows both the
mentor and mentee to continue in case both are still interested in continuing their relationship.
Q18.Do club members meet regularly?
Sure. Our U-LINK - Clubs consist of 12members who meet at least once a month with at least one
mentor as a whole. The E-Club meetings also usually once a month serve another uniting factor for
all U-LINK Club members in the same locality.
Q19.What kind of entrepreneurs do I find in UYMP?
All kinds of entrepreneur especially young people with very ordinary enterprises and minds those
are still fresh and full of ideas and ambition.
Q20. Which area in Uganda is UYMP operating?
UYMP intends to cover the whole country with youth mentoring clubs and E-Clubs. Our agents and
clubs are currently in the areas of Kampala, Masaka, Jinja, Mbale, Lira, Arua and Kisoro.