MentoringFinding a mentor in the diaspora: choosing one, writing to them, preparing your exchanges
A diaspora mentor has walked the path you are starting: studies, scholarship, visa, first job. What they can and cannot do, how to choose one on Compatri, what to write first, and how to prepare each exchange.
Founder · Compatri, the social network for diasporas
Information checked on 2 November 2026.
Finding a mentor in the diaspora means finding someone who has walked the path you are starting: they sat the bac in your country, put together an application to study abroad, looked for a scholarship, got a visa, found housing, then a first job. They will not walk that path for you, but they can spare you mistakes they made. On Compatri, the Mentors page gathers members who offer that time as volunteers. This guide explains what a mentor can and cannot do, how to choose one, what to write first and how to prepare your exchanges so they really help.
What a diaspora mentor can do for you
A mentor is neither a teacher, nor an agency, nor a parent. It is someone who shares their experience and asks the right questions. Here is the split, honestly:
| A mentor can | A mentor cannot |
|---|---|
| Tell their story, their mistakes, what they would do differently | Guarantee you an admission, a scholarship or a visa |
| Help you clarify your study plan and career plan | Choose your field for you |
| Reread your motivation letter and tell you what is unclear | Write your letter or fill in your application |
| Explain how a procedure they went through works | Replace official information from Campus France, a university or a consulate |
| Tell you what student life looks like in their city | House you, put you up or lend you money |
| Warn you about scams they know | Decide anything in an official procedure |
The last column protects both sides. A procedure changes from year to year: what a mentor lived through in 2019 is not necessarily true for the 2027 intake. Always check the official source, and see the mentor as a guide, not an authority.
What research says about mentoring
A frequently cited study by Grossman and Rhodes (2002), among 1,138 adolescents enrolled in a mentoring programme in the United States, offers two lessons:
- mentoring relationships that lasted a year or more were those where young people reported the most improvements;
- relationships that ended very early were associated with declines in several indicators for the young people.
The context differs from yours, and online mentoring for a study project is not a long-term supervised programme. But the lesson holds: a sustained relationship, even a light one, is worth more than one week of enthusiasm. Choose a mentor you will be able to follow up with, and be regular yourself.
Finding a mentor in the diaspora on Compatri
The Mentors page is reserved for logged-in members. Each mentor shows:
- their first name and the initial of their surname, the flag of their country of origin;
- their city and country of residence;
- a sentence summing them up, for example "Engineer in Lyon, went through Campus France from Cotonou";
- their background, in a few lines;
- their fields or professions;
- the topics they offer help with.
You can filter the list by topic:
| Topic | When to choose it |
|---|---|
| Guidance, choosing studies | You are hesitating between two fields or two countries |
| Scholarships | You are preparing a scholarship application |
| Application file, Campus France | You are putting together your Études en France file or a direct application |
| Visa and settling in | You have been admitted and are preparing to leave |
| Housing | You are looking for where to live in your future city |
| Internship, first job | You are a student preparing the next step |
| Help with a subject | You are stuck in a specific subject |
The directory is just starting: on some topics, there is no mentor yet. In that case, come back later, or ask your question in a community of your diaspora.
How to choose the right mentor
Do not choose the most prestigious profile, choose the one closest to your project:
Do not contact ten mentors at once with the same message. Choose one or two, and wait a few days for their answer.
The first message: what to write
The "Demander de l'aide" (ask for help) button opens a message of 20 to 500 characters. It goes out as a connection request: the mentor accepts it or not, and no private message is possible before they accept. You are notified if they accept. Those 500 characters must therefore say the essentials:
- who you are, in one sentence (class or level, country, city);
- your project, in one sentence;
- one precise request;
- why them, in one sentence.
Example:
Hello Aïcha, I am in Terminale D in Parakou and I am aiming for a biology bachelor's in Belgium for the 2027 intake. I am preparing my motivation letter and I don't know how to explain my choice of country. You went to Liège from Benin: would you agree to reread my letter when it is ready? Thank you for your time.
What to avoid: "Hello, help me go to Europe pls". The mentor knows neither who you are, nor what you want, nor what they can do for you.
Preparing the exchanges so they help
A volunteer mentor's time is precious. Come prepared:
| Before the exchange | During | After |
|---|---|---|
| Write your three questions, from most to least important | Start with the most important one | Note the three things to do |
| Attach or prepare the documents to reread (letter, list of programmes), without any ID | Take notes | Do them, then send news |
| Read what already exists: guides, official pages | Ask for sources when they mention a rule | Check every rule against the official source |
| Agree on a reasonable length | Keep to time | Say thank you, even briefly |
As for rhythm, be reasonable. A volunteer mentor has a job, a family, sometimes a time difference. One exchange every two or three weeks, with news in between, is plenty. If you get no answer after a week, a polite reminder is fine; after two reminders without an answer, move on to another mentor, with no hard feelings. And when your project succeeds, or changes, tell them: knowing what became of you is the only reward they expect.
Some resources to read before approaching a mentor, so you ask them questions that the guides do not settle: our complete guide to Campus France, our method for the scholarship motivation letter, and the Campus France simulator (in French), free and anonymous, which places your file against admitted applicants.
Safety rules with a mentor
Mentoring on Compatri is voluntary: no payment, neither from Compatri nor from young people. Hence a few simple rules:
- never pay a mentor, for anything, and be wary of anyone offering to "facilitate" an admission or a visa for money. Our article on scholarship scams details the traps;
- never send your passport, your passwords or your login codes;
- stay on the platform for the first exchanges;
- if you are a minor, tell your parents; our advice for parents supporting a child from the bac to departure is meant for them;
- report or block any behaviour that makes you uneasy, from the member's profile or the conversation. For the safety of minors, the team also answers at signalement@compatri.com.
After mentoring: returning the favour
One day, you will be the one who has walked the path. The best mentors are often former mentees. Our guide to becoming a volunteer mentor in the diaspora explains how. Meanwhile, help those a year behind you in your class group, on the Study page, and look for scholarships that suit you in the scholarship directory (in French).
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How do you find a mentor for studying abroad?
On Compatri, log in and open the Mentors page. Filter by topic (scholarships, Campus France file, visa, housing…), choose a mentor close to your project, and click "Demander de l'aide" to send a connection request with a short message.
Do you have to pay a mentor on Compatri?
No. Mentoring is voluntary: no payment, neither from Compatri nor from young people. Anyone asking you for money to "facilitate" an admission or a visa should be reported.
What should you say in the first message to a mentor?
In 500 characters at most: who you are (level, country, city), your project, one precise request and why you are writing to them. A vague request like "help me leave" rarely gets a positive answer.
Can a mentor guarantee an admission or a visa?
No. Only the institution decides on admission, and only the consulate on the visa. A mentor shares experience, rereads, advises and warns, but decides nothing and does not replace official information.
Can you message a mentor privately straight away?
No. Your request goes out as a connection request with a message. Private messaging only opens once the mentor accepts, and you are notified when they do.