Summer has ended, but mentoring continues

On the last day of summer, the Mentoring Association held a warm gathering with our mentors. It was a time not only to discuss important requests but also to pause, look inward, and share how each of us was feeling. After all, a mentor is not only someone who supports a child but also a person who needs resources, inspiration, and renewed strength.

The start of the school year is a new beginning not only for the school and the teenagers. Mentors also return after the summer break to active interaction with children. During summer, many children from institutional care spend time in summer camps, so their relationships with mentors often shift into a quieter, waiting mode.

Autumn becomes a special season: a time to restore connections between children and their adult friends — mentors. Together they continue building a bridge of trust, setting plans and mapping out their relationships for the new school year. It is a period when small steps grow into big changes, and a mentor’s support once again becomes a child’s steady foundation.

A particularly moving moment of the meeting was the story of one mentor. She shared a conversation with a teacher from an institutional care facility, who remarked: “I can immediately see which children have a mentor. The changes are tangible — they are noticeable even from the outside.” These words once again affirm how vital support and close relationships with a trusted adult truly are. Participants even shared photos and stories in the group chat about the transformations that have taken place — not only in the children, but in themselves as well.

If you are already a mentor, we invite you to join us. On the last Sunday of each month, we set aside time to support each of you. We also extend our gratitude to Kyiv City Center of Social Services for always providing a cozy place for our meetings.