GMA Buddy System — Helping new arrivals settle in, guided by those who have done it before.
This guide explains how to use the system whether you are a Newbie looking for help or a Buddy volunteering to give it.
This guide explains how to use the system whether you are a Newbie looking for help or a Buddy volunteering to give it.
Who is involved?
| Role | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Newbie | A GMA member who has recently joined a university abroad or migrated, or is about to do so, and would like help settling in. |
| Buddy | A GMA member who already studies in that university, or lives in the same city, and volunteers their time to help. Buddies are unpaid and can help up to 3 Newbies at a time. |
ⓘ One user, two roles.
You can be a Buddy for others in your city while also being matched with your own Buddy elsewhere.
Both roles appear simultaneously on your Status page.
For Newbies — how to find a Buddy
Step 1 — Submit a request
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Visit Request a Buddy and fill in your destination city, country, arrival date, and university details.
If you have requested before, your previous details are pre-filled for convenience — just update anything that has changed.
Tick the acknowledgement checkbox and submit.
Step 2 — Choose a Buddy
2
If Buddies are available in your city, you will see their cards immediately.
If none are available yet, your request is saved and Buddies will appear on your
My Buddy Status page as soon as one registers.
Select a Buddy and send your request — they are notified by email and on their Status page.
You can send a request to one Buddy at a time. If you have already sent a request, that Buddy is shown as
awaiting response (greyed out) on your Status page. You can still send a request to a different available
Buddy while waiting — whoever accepts first is assigned.
Step 3 — Wait for acceptance
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The Buddy will accept or decline from their Status page or via the email link.
You will receive an email notification either way.
If they decline, return to your Status page to choose another.
Step 4 — You are matched!
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Once accepted, both of you receive each other's full contact details by email.
Your Buddy's details are also always visible on your Status page.
When you no longer need help
Visit Release/Derequest a Buddy to end the arrangement. You can also withdraw a pending request there if you have not yet been matched. Your Buddy will be notified by email.
For Buddies — how to help a Newbie
Step 1 — Register
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Visit Register as a Buddy and enter your city, country, mobile number, and university details.
Select the areas you can help with and optionally add a short bio.
Tick the acknowledgement checkbox — you are volunteering freely and can pause or withdraw at any time.
Note: you can help up to 3 Newbies at a time.
Step 2 — Offer your help or respond to a request
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After registering, visit your My Buddy Status page.
If there are unmatched Newbies in your city, their cards appear there.
You can proactively offer to help one — they are notified by email and on their Status page.
If a Newbie has already sent you a request, it also appears prominently on your Status page with Accept and Decline buttons.
You can have one pending offer at a time. Newbies you have already offered to appear greyed out.
You can offer to a different Newbie while waiting — whoever accepts first is assigned.
Step 3 — Accept or decline
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Accept or decline directly from your Status page, or via the link in your notification email.
Both work equally — the email is a convenience notification only.
If you decline, you will be asked for an optional reason.
Pausing your availability
Life gets busy. You can pause your availability at any time from your Status page. When you pause, any current Newbies are notified and returned to the waiting list — they will find a new Buddy. Your profile is kept intact; one click on your Status page resumes your availability when you are ready.
Stepping back permanently
Visit Deregister as a Buddy to leave the Buddy pool entirely. Any current Newbies will be notified. Your GMA account and membership are unaffected. You are always welcome to re-register in the future.
Your central hub — My Buddy Status
The My Buddy Status page is where ongoing activity happens once you are in the system. Log in and visit it to:
- See your current match partner and their full contact details (name, email, mobile, university, city)
- Accept or decline a pending request or offer — directly on the page, no email link needed
- See all available Buddies in your destination city (Newbie view) and send a request
- See all unmatched Newbies in your city (Buddy view) and offer your help
- Pause or resume your availability as a Buddy
📩 No email? No problem.
Every pending request and offer always appears on your Status page — even if the notification email went to your spam folder.
When you accept via the Status page the match is confirmed immediately.
Quick reference — pages on the website
| Page | What it does |
|---|---|
| Request a Buddy | Submit a new buddy request. Previous details are pre-filled for convenience. |
| Register as a Buddy | Register or update your buddy profile. Also shows pause/resume toggle if already registered. |
| My Buddy Status | Your central hub. Current match details, pending requests and offers (with Accept/Decline), available Buddies or Newbies to connect with, and pause/resume toggle. |
| Release/Derequest a Buddy | End a buddy arrangement, or withdraw a pending request. |
| Deregister as a Buddy | Permanently leave the buddy pool. Your GMA account is unaffected. |
Good to know
- All volunteer. Buddies are unpaid. Please be respectful of their time and availability.
- Privacy matters. Do not share information about your Buddy or Newbie with anyone without their consent. This is part of the acknowledgement you tick when registering or requesting.
- Flexible. Buddies can pause or withdraw at any time. If this happens you will be notified and the GMA team will help you find a new Buddy.
- Admin assigns too. If no Buddy is immediately available, the GMA team can manually match you and will notify both parties.
- Multiple matches possible. A Buddy can help up to 3 Newbies simultaneously. If all Buddies in your city are at capacity, your request is saved and the GMA team will assist.
- Staying in touch. Once matched, how you communicate with your Buddy or Newbie is up to you — use the contact details shared by email and on your Status page.
⚠ Questions or problems?
Contact the GMA support team at
support@globalmentoringacademy.com