Finding + supporting mentors for pupils in Berlin

Dear friends of PaSch,

we hope you are doing well and that you have enjoyed this summer so far.

There has been a lot going on in the PaSch project since May and we want to take you with us and tell you what we have already organized for our PaSch tandems, what activities we have undertaken and what else has happened at PaSch.

As already announced in the last report, the first PaSch excursion this year took place in May. Together with about 20 people from the PaSch project and a nature educator, we went to Pankow Schlosspark. Some children attended with their mentors, others were there with a parent and siblings. Apart from the anticipation of a picnic together in the park, our children and families didn't really know what to expect. Our idea was to discover, seek out and collect the colors of spring, to build, sneak, fly, play and relax with natural materials and also to observe and listen with ears, eyes and magnifying glasses.

Our nature educator quickly recognized the needs of the children and at first the desire was great to share and eat the delicacies they had brought with them and to get to know the other participants. Everyone was allowed to collect a piece of nature that they found interesting or beautiful. Every find was shown in and introductory round and we discussed what we collected there.

While walking through the park, we discovered more exciting things and learned which trees grow there and why it is good that a dead tree trunk remains, because it can become the home of animals and insects. Afterwards we played extensively. The kids between the ages of 4 and 13 played very well together and became a real team.

A little later, in search of a tree that that formed a cave in its hollow trunk, we collected more beautiful objects and were able to decorate a card with self-adhesive foil with our finds. This was a beautiful memento. Everyone had a wonderful day in nature, the kids watched the ducks on the water and we said goodbye balanced and satisfied.

About two weeks later, the neighborhood festival “Fest der Nachbarschaft” took place in the yard of Fabrik Osloer Straße. Here, too, some of the families and tandems joined us. The festival was well attended after the Covid years and the participants enjoyed themselves at the various stands, with the kids rally, with music and delicious food from the buffet.

Since celebrations are so nice, we decided to organize a special PaSch summer party. In addition to the tandems currently participating in the project, we also invited some of the former mentors and mentees – because reunion is fun. One 17-year-former mentee even met both of his former mentors. At first, they hardly recognized each other. The mentee was surprised how “small” his mentor was, because when his mentorship ended at the age of 11, he was of course much smaller. The mentor for her part hardly recognized the now young man, because in her memory he was still a boy. Soon they were familiar again and told each other what had happened in their lives during the last years.

Another mentor, who had started her mentorship in 2013, now attended with her own two children. Both mentor and mentee were very happy to see each other again and exchange stories.

Not only were we touched to bring them all back together, it was also nice for the newer tandems to see how the bond between two people can grow over time and how the trust and connection can be so strong and intimate despite sometimes years of lack of contact.

The buffet with food brought along by everybody, the barbecue and games were of course also well received. With best weather we spent a wonderful afternoon. A photographer was also there so that everyone could get a nice and up-to-date tandem photo.

The sponsored children were creative and painted a picture on which they wrote "thank you" in their respective languages for you and for everyone who donates to PaSch. Only thanks to your donations we are able to continue our work to the fullest extent. Thank you!!

We also want to give you a small insight in the everyday activities of our tandems. One tandem goes swimming very often and it turned out that the mentor had suggested to go swimming once, but the boy couldn't swim at the time. The mentor is a trained lifeguard and has actually taught the boy to swim over time and the boy likes to go swimming with him almost every time they meet. We were so grateful for this little success story, because now one more child has learned how to swim, which unfortunately many children have not been able to learn during the past two years due to Covid.

In September, we will organize an exchange meeting for mentors and give them the opportunity to talk about their experiences, challenges and beautiful moments. This time we will afterwards join the annual thanksgiving party for volunteers, organized by all projects of our community center. We are looking forward to the exchange and the celebration afterwards.

A preparatory workshop for new volunteers is also planned in the end of September. And as you already know, after the workshop new matchings will start.

And because the joint activities at PaSch are always so nice, we will go to the Zoo together with the tandems and families in autumn and spend a nice afternoon there.

We will tell you about this in the next report!

We would like to thank you very much for your donations and support, because this is the only way we can make the project so comprehensive.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Your PaSch Team