Finding + supporting mentors for pupils in Berlin

Dear donors,

Looking back, we have to say that the last months were once again eventful. In February PaSch hosted another workshop that was concerned with the evaluation of mentoring from the children’s point of view. It was a follow up event of the workshops we hosted in December of last year. In the course of this workshop we presented the prototyped evaluation tools and gathered further propositions of the young mentees. Lately, at the beginning of April, we finished this series of workshops with a last event that we made a “farewell” workshop. The final evaluation tools – a diary and a questionnaire – were handed over to the mentees, we discussed the handling of the questionnaire. On top of that, we went for some ice cream to show our appreciation for the children’s work. We are proud that we conceptualized, created and finalized these tools that were awaited by the whole network of Berlin mentoring programs.

In the meantime, PaSch members had some more great experiences. 14 mentors and mentees went to an indoor climbing area in March and everyone was excited to go their finally. Some of them planned to do so for a long time, but could never make it. Therefor the general mood was happy and frisky. The coach who gave us instructions did a great job with the mixed group of children and adults. The children had fun, enjoyed the sporty activity and were proud of their skills. One boy didn’t dare to climb at the beginning but in the end he didn’t want to stop anymore. We all left tired but with a big sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Since the beginning of the year PaSch had interviewed 10 people who wished to become a mentor. By the end of March 5 eligible people were still interested and were invited for an initiatory qualification seminar. Communication, intercultural living and resilience were the main topics and the group was participating actively and with big interest. Unfortunately two participants were facing changes in the meantime and given their current situation they lack the time to mentor a child within the PaSch project. But one of the other participants already met her future mentee. They spend almost two hours together and both left smiling. This week they meet again and next week they are going to conclude their mentorship.

Moreover, a few mentors felt the need to re-adjust their mentoring relationships. Two felt the burden of responsibility too heavy on their shoulders and the PaSch manager provided them strategies to talk this problem through with the mentee’s parents. After having spoken with the parents, they feel at ease and more optimistic again, as the expectations are clarified now. Another mentor suspects her mentee to be at risk for addiction to her smartphone. The mentee’s parents and the mentor reached out for help and the PaSch manager forwarded them to a consultation center, where they can get advice and help for free.

Nonetheless with spring coming PaSch reaches out and has good news to tell. We are happy to report that “Berliner Morgenpost” one of Berlin’s big newspapers interviewed a mentor and her mentee. This mentoring relationship exists for more than 9 years and their main focus has always been on school and extra lessons. That payed out. The boy will finish school this summer and he already obtained a training position at federal police. “Berliner Morgenpost” wants to honor the mentor’s engagement and the mentees success. Therefor they devote a long article with a big picture to their successful mentoring. Mentor, mentee and PaSch alike are very proud of this and can’t await the paper to be printed.

Considering all these evolvements and the prospects related to them, we are looking forward to the upcoming weeks. Next week we’ll finish the new information brochure that will help us to acquire children and adults for PaSch project. The week afterwards PaSch will participate in the central Berlin volunteering fair. By the end of May Berlin celebrates the “Day of neighborhood” and so does PaSch. In the context of an event we’ll create a booth and offer upcycling activities to present PaSch to the neighborhood. Just a few days after that, PaSch mentors and mentees will go on their next fieldtrip. In the context of “Langer Tag der Stadtnatur” - a Berlin initiative for nature - we’ll do a rally in “Volksgarten Pankow Blankenfelde” a big park. Everyone’s already looking forward to that.

To sum it up: It was and will be lively and that’s how we want it to be. There is nothing left to say but: Thank you for your support!