Vision

The foundation of this project is the observation that far too many young black boys and girls feel discouraged early on and are unable to keep up with the achievements of their classmates. The predictable diagnoses for this have been learning disorder and problem behavior. Unfortunately, many kids respond by becoming even more withdrawn and passive. In some cases, they become rebellious. Combined with a lack of adequate support from home – due to language barriers and insufficient knowledge of the German school system for instance, – these factors often hinder the ability of many young black boys and girls to reach their full potential.

What do we expect from our Mentors?

Support

We welcome any kind of support. In particular, using experience-based knowledge to help kids avoid or solve problems is exactly what we are about.

Challenge

Children need challenges to develop. Mentors empower them to embrace and overcome challenges.

Co-determination

Yes, kids look up to you. But isn’t it more helpful when they also have a say in the design of mentoring activities? Encourage them to do so.

Motivate

Children have a tendency to only do what interests them. Find out what those interests are, and use them as a base to engage them.

Accompany

As a mentor, you’re what kids look up to. Inspire their self-confidence and help them develop their potential and reach their goals.

Benefit

A mentee benefits from having the support of a mentor, and a mentor benefits from having his or her perspectives broadened.

How does Vorbilder work?

The program addresses two main issues: lack of motivation and experience-based appropriate support. Shared cultural backgrounds and the fact of having overcome similar challenges make our mentors uniquely qualified to mediate between a child and its parents and teachers. By offering mentees this experience-based support and someone to directly look up to, mentors help young people reach their full potential by aiding in their personal and educational developments. We incorporate age-appropriate and socially-relevant topics such as communication, self-management, and identity and help mentees address issues regarding their personalities. Each activity is performed in a fun and friendly atmosphere with ample opportunities for self-reflection. Methods include role-playing, movement & dance games, creative writing and design, and group discussions.

The two main phases of the project:

Phase One – Group Orientation/ Mentoring: Group mentoring at school: every other week, mentors and mentees meet after school to get to know each other. They engage in discussions about issues such as bullying and respect. By using a resource-oriented, sustainable, and error-friendly approach, we allow kids to discover their potential, strengths, and talents.

Zudem erweitern wir die Perspektiven der Mentees zusätzlich, indem wir mit ihnen Theaterstücke, Musicals und Kunstausstellungen besuchen. Ein Highlight des Gruppenmentorings ist eine einwöchige Kennenlernreise, bei der die Mentees die Gelegenheit haben, wertvolle Entlastung von ihrem Alltag zu erleben und spielerisch an ihren Visionen und Zielen zu arbeiten. Des Weiteren zeigen wir ihnen neue beruflicheMöglichkeiten auf, indem wir mit ihnen Betriebe besuchen und auf diese Weise einen Einblick in die Arbeitswelt bekommen.

Phase 2 – Individual mentoring away from school: Mentors and mentees get together each month to partake in leisure activities, work out solutions to any problems that may arise, and build long-lasting bonds.