Mentoring

About the programme

Mentoring, the way we shape it, means a long-term relationship — not a single inspirational conversation. A mentor and a child meet monthly, over at least a year, and give themselves the time to get to know each other. The mentor does not come to fix anything. The mentor comes to be there: to listen, to ask, to remember what was said last time.

For children in the communities we support, the presence of an adult who sees them and takes them seriously is, in itself, an intervention. Many of the important choices made between 12 and 18 are not made on the basis of missing information, but on the basis of the conviction “someone believes I can”. That is what the mentor brings.

How it works

• Careful matching between mentor and child, based on interests and temperament.
• Monthly meetings of 60-90 minutes, in a setting agreed together — at the community centre, in town, online if distance requires it.
• A minimum 12-month commitment from the mentor — because a relationship that breaks abruptly can be more harmful than its absence.
• Support for mentors — initial training, monthly group supervision, and the option to speak with a coordinator when something difficult comes up.

Who it serves

Children and teenagers between 10 and 18 in vulnerable situations — orphans, in family placement, raised by grandparents, or from families going through hard times. They are intelligent, curious, capable children — who need one constant adult in their lives.

How you can get involved

• As a mentor — if you are willing to be present consistently for a child for at least a year, apply here. We do not require formal training — we require time, patience and consistency.
• As a company partner — mentoring programmes for your employees are a concrete form of community involvement, with measurable impact. Details on Partners.
• As a donor — every mentoring relationship has operational costs (training, supervision, travel). Contribute.