My first project was simple HTML, just to find out exactly how a webpage works, how to upload files to a FTP server, etc.

My next project was some simple PHP - reading something from a database, having a user make changes to it, etc. I used PHP because once you understand HTML PHP is pretty simple. I installed WAMP (http://www.wampserver.com/en/) which has everything you need to start doing PHP. Also PHP is good for beginners since there is a huge community - whatever problem you have someone else will have had it before you.

Next I started doing sessions and more advanced stuff with PHP, javascript and Mysql (database). I actually made a Danish version of hacker news :-) (http://www.deloghersk.dk)

After 1½ years I'm getting pretty fluent, and would feel confident programming a lot of stuff you see on the net: blogging software, CMS software, etc.

I didn't have any mentors, Google was my only friend. I used this site a lot: http://www.w3schools.com It has some excellent and very simple tutorials on HTML, PHP, MYSQL, etc. to get you started.

One thing I have to say here: Do it. It's worth the effort. I regret not having learnt to program ten years ago, it would have made my life so much easier when dealing with technology. So even if you don't end up programming a lot it will help you tremendously in understanding and managing technology.