It started as an idea this past winter. The international office at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) was looking for a way to make international students feel more at home once they arrived at the university’s Prince George campus. “We wanted to create connection, conversation, and provide a familiar face for someone,” says Maria Trujillo, International Student Retention Coordinator at UNBC.

Maria and her team got to work launching the Global Buddy Program, a mentorship program that pairs returning domestic students with new international students studying at UNBC. The uptake was better than expected. “We had a large number of students sign up right away to be a mentor, ready to dive into the initiative” says Maria.

More than 25 pairs of students were formed, meeting once a week, on or off campus, building friendship through conversation.

“Being part of the Global Buddy Program has been a truly rewarding experience, says one mentor. The program gave me the chance to create a lifelong connection and make a positive impact at UNBC.”

A mentee echo’s that sentiment: “The mentorship program was a crucial part of my successful transition at UNBC. My mentor provided excellent support, whether it was discussing topics like tax forms or addressing other concerns. When challenges arose, my mentor took the initiative to research possible solutions and followed up with me, which I greatly appreciated.”

With the pilot a success, the international office is looking forward to launching the program’s next cohort this fall. This time, every new international student will be automatically paired with a mentor, allowing for a smooth, and friendly, transition to their life at UNBC.