Your First Weeks in the Women Buddy Programme
What the first 7, 30 and 90 days with a Women Buddy Programme buddy look like, what a buddy is, and what she is not.
The programme
Starting over somewhere new is lonely in a very particular way. You may have a course to go to, forms to fill in and a flat to keep. You can still go a whole week without telling anyone how it is really going. The Women Buddy Programme (WBP) exists for that gap. It matches a woman who is finding her feet with another woman who has been new somewhere too.
This guide walks through the first three months as the programme describes them: the first week, the first month and the first ninety days. It is a description of how the programme is shaped, not a promise about any one friendship. Every pair is different, and that is the point.
What a buddy is, and what she is not
A buddy is a peer. She listens, she encourages you, and she shows up regularly. She has been new somewhere herself, so the small confusions of a new place will not surprise her.
A buddy is not:
- a teacher or tutor
- a therapist or counsellor
- a social worker or case manager
- a recruiter or someone who finds you a job
She will not give you professional, legal or medical advice. If you need that kind of help, a good buddy will say so honestly and encourage you to contact the right service. That boundary is part of what keeps the programme safe for both of you.
Before the first hello
You tell the programme a little about yourself: where you live, the languages you speak and what you care about. TEEI reviews every application, on both sides, before anyone is matched. Then TEEI helps you find a buddy who could be a good fit.
Every buddy is a woman. Taking part is free for both of you.
The first 7days : welcome
The first week has one job: a first hello. Someone knows you have arrived, and someone is glad you did.
That first conversation does not need an agenda. You meet on video, from wherever you each are. Talk about where you are now, what your week looks like, and what would make it easier. It is fine if the first call is short.
A few things worth agreeing early:
- A rhythm. Agree how often you would both like to meet.
- A length. Choose a call length that works for both of you.
- How to reach each other between calls, and what to do if one of you needs to cancel.
The first 30days : support
By the end of the first month, the aim is a steadier rhythm. The conversations turn to everyday routines: finding your way around, the appointment you are dreading, the recipe that went wrong. These are the small things that make a week feel normal.
There is no script and no curriculum. You can talk about daily life, goals, challenges or nothing in particular. Some weeks the most useful thing is simply having a conversation you do not have to manage alone.
This is also the point to be honest if something is not working. If the match does not feel right, say so. TEEI will help you find a better fit, and you do not owe anyone an explanation.
The first 90days : pathway
Around the third month, when you are ready, the friendship can open doors. Your buddy is not there to plan your future. She can encourage you to take a step you have been putting off, and keep you company while you take it.
For some women that step is a language. On TEEI Language, you practise speaking with a volunteer conversation partner on video. For others it is a new skill through Skills Academy, or a mentor in their own field through TEEI Mentorship. For many it is something that has nothing to do with a programme at all. Whatever is next is yours to decide, and none of these is a required next stage.
If life gets in the way
Life happens. If you need to cancel, tell your buddy as early as you can. If you need to pause or stop, contact TEEI and the team will help manage the change. If anything ever feels wrong, stop and contact TEEI.
You might also start with
These guides each stand on their own. Start wherever fits your week:
- Your first conversation on TEEI Language
- Practising a language between conversations
- What a course certificate shows, and what it doesn’t
To read how the programme works and who it is for, see the Women Buddy Programme page.