What do you do if your mentees lack access to technology due to the digital divide?

Forge partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, or government agencies to secure donations or discounted rates on technology devices and internet services for your mentees. Collaborating with community partners can expand your resources and support efforts to bridge the digital divide effectively.

I’d suggest to have a sit-down discussion with your mentees to know the specifics they’re lacking and that’s how you can best find the right solution to their needs and in this case, their technological needs.

If your mentees lack access to technology due to the digital divide, there are several steps you can take to support them: Identify Alternative Resources: Provide Physical Materials: Access to Public Resources: Arrange for Technology Access: Offline Communication: Advocate for Access: Collaborate with Others: Adapt Mentoring Strategies: Empowerment and Skill-building: By taking these steps, you can help support your mentees even if they lack access to technology due to the digital divide.

I will need to begin by finding out where is my mentee located. In most of western countries, access to internet is widely available. In the event that they face issues with connecting, finding alternative places is a solution. Today many coffee shops offer free wifi. What I recommend is to identify places where they can have a safe and good connection and those public spaces that are prepare to allow them to get access to internet.

I had a similar situation with my mentee once, she had issues with her laptop and couldn't access the materials I had given her. Those couple of weeks, we had a one-on-one session because she was home, and proximity-wise, we could meet up. But in situations when you cannot meet, you can call them or text them. For materials, you want them to read or work on, can be compiled in a word document and given to them, to later work on when they get their laptop fixed or get access to other options.

Here are something to try: Encourage mentees to schedule regular phone calls or in-person meetings with their mentors and networking contacts. For example, instead of sending an email to a potential mentor, they could write a letter expressing their interest in a mentorship and follow up with a phone call to schedule a meeting. Mentees could visit their local library to access computers and the internet for job searches, networking on professional platforms, or online learning. Mentees could join a local business association and attend their monthly meetings to connect with other professionals in their field.