Mentoring for secondary school children in Neukölln

The mentoring project of the Bürgerstiftung Neukölln (Neukölln Citizens' Foundation) is focused on more educational justice for young pupils. Through 1:1 support during the transition phase from school to work (9th and 10th grade), the young people receive assistance in preparing for exams, professional orientation and all questions and problems concerning the exciting time of growing up.

With the mentoring sessions, the project supports young people in discovering the potential they have and encourages them to be brave enough to find their own way.

Not only the mentees but also the mentors experience mentoring as a benefit. Accompanying a mentee and observing his or her development gives many of our volunteers contentment and allows them to experience the immediate meaning of their commitment. Insight into other situations in life and the associated intercultural learning process are also among the benefits of the project.

Your Tasks

Mentee and mentor meet once a week for at least one hour. This time should be used to do activities, to learn together, to discuss questions or problems or to listen to, comfort or encourage the mentee.

This time spent together is intended to develop and strengthen the personality of the mentee by, among other things, practising social skills, providing career orientation, enabling help for self-help or passing on experience and knowledge.

What's needed

A prerequisite for this commitment is a very good knowledge of German, since the students are also supported in acquiring the MSA ( Intermediate School Certificate).

You should also like young people and be able to empathise with them.

For an involvement as a mentor you need an extended police clearance certificate. The application is free of charge for you, we will be happy to advise you.

Time required

The meetings with your mentee take place regularly and last about 2 hours. We recommend weekly appointments for the first phase of getting to know each other, later the intervals can also be somewhat longer or shorter in hot exam phases or telephone calls are added. All appointments are made individually and are arranged by mutual agreement.

In 2005 over 100 people founded in Neukölln the first neighbourhood community-foundation of Germany. They have united in order to encourage people for a new start. N+ is a community platform for the creation of a appreciative cooperation of which associations, church communities, house projects, initiatives, companies and individuals are taking part. The Bürgerstiftung Neukölln has been started a lot of projects and has been supporting different initiatives in Neukölln which are working for a better education, a diverse culture and mutual respect. In this way the vision of a intercultural city is taking shape.