The book “Mentors: real stories of friendship with children from an orphanage” about the friendship of adult mentors with teenagers from orphanages was presented in Almaty, reports the correspondent of Tengrinews.kz.
The book of the Kazakhstan project “Mentors” of the “Dara” Charity Foundation "Дара" is now available to readers in Kazakh in an online version and in audio listening format in Russian.
The main idea of the “Mentors” project is to help children from orphanages prepare for independent life through communication with trained volunteer mentors. A mentor is an adult who wants and can devote his time, transfer knowledge, as well as his experience to a teenager left without parental care.
The book contains the vast experience of the team of project specialists for more than 7 years of work and more than 40 personal experiences of project participants, each story is unique and interesting in its own way, which reflects how mentors look for special keys to children, teach them to trust, make friends and believe in the best, help achieve goals and prepare for life outside the walls of the orphanage. In addition to touching stories, the reader can get useful recommendations and important answers from project psychologists on the topic of interaction with adolescents.
The book “Mentors: real stories of friendship with children from an orphanage” consists of three parts. It presents real stories of friendship between children from orphanages with mentors from the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Karaganda. The psychologists of the project are Dana Serikova, Layla Yesnazarova and Larissa Sidorova, under the general editorship of Alua Barmankulova and Galiya Makulzhan, assisted in the preparation of the material for the book.
The compiler is the Director of projects and programs of the “Dara” Private Foundation, the Head of the “Mentors” project is Ainur Aimurzina. Friends and partners of the Dara Foundation, as well as students of the New Generation School private school in Almaty took part in the dubbing of the audiobook.
Any Kazakhstani over the age of 25 who has passed the selection and training organized by the project can become a mentor. The minimum time of participation in the project is 2 years, ideally it is a friendship for life. Through communication, mentors help their wards learn household and social skills, adapt to society. The most valuable thing that older friends can give is time, personal attention and interest in the development of a teenager.
Mentor Karina has been in the project for two years. Her ward is a 17-year-old Vagib. She noted that at first they were both shy and constrained, but over time, after each meeting, they became closer to each other.
“I really enjoyed being a mentor. Here I managed to understand myself, my feelings and fears. In my opinion, the project helps not only children, but also adults to understand themselves. We’ve both changed. I am amazed at how kindness and inner strength are combined in him. And outwardly he is shy. But the more I get to know him, the more clearly the strength of character, spirit - qualities inherent in men - manifest themselves. He clearly understands what he wants right now. He always says that when he grows up, he will help people”, Karina said.
Vagib himself shared that after meeting Karina, he changed and became more sociable and confident.
"She is interested in my opinion, desires, asks where I would like to go, gives me the opportunity to choose what we will do. We go to the cinema, to the mountains, to skate on the Medeu. We spend time with her family,” the guy said.
You can buy a paper version of the book in the network of “Meloman” stores in Kazakhstan. Electronic versions of books in Russian and Kazakh languages can be purchased on the largest e-book platform “LitRes” "ЛитРес" and on the website Fundaraising.kz.
The “Mentors” project has been implemented since 2015 by the “Dara” Charitable Foundation in partnership with non-governmental organizations. Today, the project operates in 13 cities of Kazakhstan: Atyrau, Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Karaganda, Temirtau, Pavlodar, Uralsk, Aktau, Shymkent, Semey, Kostanay, Kyzylorda and Ust-Kamenogorsk. The project provides ongoing training and psychological support for volunteer mentors, as well as children. The project is free and open to anyone who is willing to go through the selection and training process.
The “Dara” Charitable Private Foundation фонд "Дара" implements projects aimed at improving the living conditions and expanding the development opportunities of children with special educational needs and children in orphanages, as well as the development of inclusion in Kazakhstan.
Source:tengrinews.kz
