MUNTERwegs Mentor
Switzerland
Organisation that has implemented good practice: Verein MUNTERwegs
Type of organisation: NGO
Level: National
Target group: children aged from 5 – 11 with a migrant background
Aim: to support children from vulnerable families and improve their educational opportunities and inclusion.
Description
Volunteers/mentors support children from vulnerable families as mentors to promote equal opportunities for underprivileged children in the field of education through systematic learning support with German as a second language and through other leisure time activities. Volunteers/mentors do not need any special previous knowledge or experience, only willing to help and volunteer. They have to be only over 17 years. They are mostly high school or university students (particularly in the field of social sciences, pedagogy, social work), people with migrant backgrounds, retired people, and others.
Volunteers/mentors are carefully introduced to their role and are supported by a project team with regular coaching and training activities. Mentoring lasts 8 months and mentors and mentees meet the children approximately twice a month and provide support when it is needed. Parents and teachers are also involved in the project. The MUNTERwegs mentoring program is offered every year already from 2009 at the various MUNTERwegs locations.
