We are very pleased to announce that the Centre Afaq began implementing a mentoring scheme this spring, an idea of future development of the Street Children Project from its inception in October 2010! After a training on child protection and two mentoring-specific trainings, the first mentoring one-on-one sessions took place in the first week of May.

Based on successful programs around the world, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters USA and Klevis Kola Foundation UK, the mentoring project in Taroudannt aims to increase a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem and provide children with a model and a source of consistent and reliable support. The mentoring project requires adult volunteers to commit to a mentoring relationship for a period of at least one year.

Currently there are four mentors, all of whom are teachers from local Taroudannt schools. Each person meets with a matched child once a week to spend time doing something together and build a strong relationship. A mentor’s mission is to help the child reach his/her full potential, including at school. Many studies have shown that mentoring schemes have positive effects on children’s grades, social skills and confidence. We are looking forward to seeing the first mentoring relationships progress.