Finding + supporting mentors for pupils in Berlin

Dear friends of PaSch,

there has been a lot going on in our PaSch project in the last few months of this year. We celebrated parties, we went on a field trip together, we brought mentees and mentors together and much more.

We also exchanged views on the horrific events in the Middle East, tried to strengthen mentors and continue to build bridges and stand up for peaceful coexistence.

We would like to tell you about some of these PaSch events – not least thanks to your donations we were able to make them possible!

In September and November, we offered preparatory workshops for volunteers, training a total of 7. Four of them wanted to continue after the workshop and they have already been matched. sometimes volunteers realize in the workshop that the responsibility for a mentorship may be too big or no longer suitable for their own current life situation. Even if this is a pity for us, it is always good when volunteers realize this before entering the matching process. There are still families waiting for new mentors, but they don't have to experience sudden dropouts.

This year's thank-you party also took place in September. A group of mentors and the PaSch team met before the party started and had an exchange meeting. Once again, we gave each other tips, talked about challenges and learned about the beautiful moments that the mentors and their mentees experience. We also presented the idea of creating a group via a messenger service for all mentors in order to send up-to-date information and tips in an uncomplicated way instead of an email that often gets lost. This was very well received by everyone and practice shows that people help each other even at short notice.

After the exchange, we joined the thank-you party for all the volunteers who work with us in the different projects of the community center. There was a delicious buffet, good atmosphere, music, conversations and of course a small creative part (putting photos together for a picture of a boat titled "all on board".

On October 14th, we went to the Berlin Zoo as a PaSch group of 23 people. The excitement was great to see so many animals and of course some the favorite animals of which everyone revealed during our little welcome in front of the zoo - lions, monkeys, elephants, panda bears... The tandems walked alone or in groups through the zoo until we met again for a warm drink, for which we could also invite the mentees and mentors thanks to the donations, and everyone excitedly told what they had seen and how many steps they had already walked in the 3 hours. Some tandems went to the aquarium afterwards with the combination tickets we had and were even allowed to experience this highlight. It was an all-round successful field-trip.

From the end of October to mid-December we matched a total of 4 tandems. During our series of 3 get-to-know-you meetings for each new tandem, everyone is always quite excited at the first meetings, and it is nice to observe how mentor and mentee get familiar with each other. We are all very happy to receive updates from the tandems about how the meetings are going, what they are doing and see that all 4 tandems manage to meet well. At the beginning of next year, the new tandems will also be lucky to be part of the first PaSch excursion. I'm sure it's going to be exciting for them too. For the first time in a few years, PaSch is visiting a theatre with the tandems. We are very happy and will report on it next year.

At the end of the year, our community center always organizes a winter party for all neighbors and participants of the projects in the center. PaSch tandems and families are also invited to warm themselves with hot apple juice at the fire bowl in the courtyard, to take part in various activities with the mentees and to have a good time. Like every year, we packed Christmas bags for our tandems with materials for handicrafts, learning, laughing and small gifts. In total, we were able to distribute 8 Christmas bags because some tandems came to our party. It was a nice end to a full year with many events.

We are looking forward to a new PaSch year, which we will start with a theatre trip, further matchings, hopefully many new interested volunteers and beautiful moments.

Every donation to PaSch helps to make our project more extensive, thank you very much!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the PaSch team!