Training on Mentoring for Institutional Care and Education Facilities

On August 20–21 in Lviv, we gathered to talk about how mentoring can change children’s lives. Trainers of the Association, together with the Coordination Center, conducted a two-day training for 32 institutional care and education facilities from ten regions of Ukraine.

Over these two days, we trained specialists who work with children every day and play an important role in their lives. For many participants, the topic of mentoring was new, yet it inspired them to introduce this approach in their institutions.

During the training, we explored key issues:

• the role of institutional care facilities in the development of mentoring;

• the algorithm for implementing mentoring in institutional care and education facilities;

• preparation of children and mentors for interaction;

• practical aspects of supporting “mentor–child” matches.

The exchange of experience with practitioners and mentors helped participants gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by children without adult support and to develop effective solutions for introducing mentoring in their institutions.

The training was made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine for Children’s Affairs, the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Upbringing and Childcare, UNICEF Ukraine, DIiMO – the Office for Children and Youth, and the Mentoring Association for Children and Youth.

We believe that mentoring will become the bridge that gives children reliable adults by their side and new opportunities for the future.