Gemma

“Fel menyw wen ganol oed mewn swydd arwain, roeddwn yn ymwybodol iawn o’r fraint oedd gennyf pan wnes i wneud cais am y rhaglen EPEV. Ond rydym yn fwy na sut rydym yn edrych ar y tu allan. Ar ôl fy holl brofiadau dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, roedd angen i mi wneud *rhywbeth*, ac roedd y rhaglen hon yn teimlo fel ei bod hi wedi’i chynllunio ar fy nghyfer.

Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ‘dwi wedi ymuno ag ystod o sesiynau hyfforddi cefnogol a gafaelgar, sydd yn canolbwyntio go iawn ar greu amgylchedd cynhwysol, lle gall pob un sy’n cael ei fentora deimlo’n gyfforddus, hyderus, diogel a chroesawgar.

‘Dwi wedi cwrdd â mentoreion yn rhithiol ac mewn person, sy’n dod o ystod eang o gefndiroedd a phrofiad, gan gynnwys ffoaduriaid, myfyrwyr gradd Meistr, staff rheng flaen, gwirfoddolwyr ac aelodau’r bwrdd. Rwyf wedi eu gweld fel crëwyr newid meddylgar, ymroddedig a deinamig, sy’n benderfynol o fod yn rhan o greu Cymru fwy cyfartal i bawb.

A’ dwi wedi gwneud cysylltiad â fy mentor cefnogol dros ben, Rachel Cable, sydd nid yn unig wedi cynnig cyngor, cefnogaeth a hyfforddiant ymarferol i fy helpu i fagu fy hyder a fy sgiliau, ond sydd wedi bod yn berson brwdfrydig hefyd ar adeg pan roeddwn i wir angen gwybod bod rhywun yn fy nghefnogi ar lefel broffesiynol a phersonol.

Dwi wedi dysgu cymaint drwy’r rhaglen, ac wedi cael fy atgoffa o bethau amdanaf fi fy hun roeddwn i wedi’u hanghofio. Dwi wedi dechrau dweud ie wrth bethau sy’n codi ofn arna i, ac ar ôl amser hir o deimlo heb gyfeiriad, nawr, dwi’n teimlo fel fy mod i’n gallu gweld y goleudy yn fy mhwyntio i’r cyfeiriad cywir”.

Gemma

As a middle aged white woman in a leadership role, I was very aware of how much privilege I was bringing with me when I applied for the EPEV programme. However we’re more than how we look on the outside. After all my experiences over the last few years, I needed to do *something*, and this programme felt like it had been designed for me.

Over the last year, I have joined a range of supportive and engaging training sessions, with a real focus on creating an inclusive environment where all mentees can feel comfortable, confident, safe, and welcome.

I’ve met mentees virtually and in person who come from a huge range of backgrounds and experience, including refugees, Masters students, frontline staff, volunteers, and board members. I’ve found them to be thoughtful, committed, and dynamic change makers, determined to be part of creating a more equal Wales for all.

And I’ve made a connection with my incredibly supportive mentor, Rachel Cable, who has not only offered practical advice, support, and coaching to help me build my confidence and skills, but has been a cheerleader and ‘hype’ person at a time when I really needed to know someone was professionally and personally in my corner.

I’ve learned so much through EPEV, and been reminded of things about myself that I had forgotten. I’ve started saying yes to things that scare me, and after a long time of feeling rudderless I feel like now I can see the lighthouse pointing me in the right direction.