Mentorship
Mentoring is a development strategy for a child’s successful path to adulthood
A supportive individual, i.e. a mentor, works closely with a child to build a relationship by offering guidance, support, and encouragement to cultivate the child’s positive and healthy development and thus helping them grow up by becoming confident, respected and responsible.
Mentoring creates assurance in a child’s mind that there is someone who cares about them, and that they are not alone in dealing with the day-to-day challenges.
Who can be a Mentor?
Ideally, local volunteers who are expert / trained to be mentors and can be role models to the kids. A strong desire to help change lives of under-privileged kids is essential
Role of Mentors in the Happy Kids Program
- To build mutual trust.
- To become a reliable friend who is always there for the child in difficult situations.
- Regular contact and conversation.
- Meeting with the child – once in a month and as mutually agreed between the mentor and mentee.
- Regularly calls to kids – once in a week or at least fortnight.
- Talk to the child’s parent/guardian along with Ra team member – if and as required.
- With the child’s agreement and Ra Foundation’s permission, visit to school/college to build a good relationship with their classmates and to understand the kid’s progress.
- Coordinate regarding the child’s progress with Ra Foundation on regular basis.
- Coordinate with other experts if required.
Skills of Mentors
- Efficient relationship building and management based on mutual respect.
- Encouraging the child’s qualities and nurturing them.
- Respond to the child’s needs.
- Provide inspiration and challenges to improve the child’s abilities.
- Nurture a warm relationship and be empathetic to the child’s difficulties.
Areas of Support
- Mentors help improve a child’s self-esteem, academic performance, behavior, and help cultivate a positive attitude towards life.
- Mentors help the children develop strong interpersonal relationships with others and strengthen their communication skills.
- Mentors may help with studies thus improving their mentees’ academic skills.
- Mentors help college youth set career goals and start taking steps to fulfill them, keeping Ra Foundation in the loop.
- Mentors can use their personal contacts to help their mentee meet industry professionals, finding internship, job possibilities, hostel, PG accommodation, etc.
- Mentors help the child learn new skills, discover hobby classes and coach.
- Mentors can help their mentees learn how to seek and keep jobs.
- Mentors help the child deal with a problem, if any arises, at school, home or in personal life.
Testimonials
Role of Ra Foundation
The Ra Foundation Team will help and support the mentors whenever it’s needed. We will maintain regular communication through meetings and calls as well as keep records of children provided by mentors.However, any major decision concerning the child will be taken by Ra Foundation