Mentors for Ukrainian orphans

Which orphans are we talking about?

More than 80 children and young people with disabilities had to be evacuated from their home in Kryvyi Rih in April 2022 due to the war. Now they live in the Dominikus-Ringeisen-Werk in Ursberg, where they have to deal with the traumatic experiences of war and flight in addition to their already difficult fate. We are currently looking for mentors for about 30 of them. (Evacuation history)

How mentoring works?

As a mentor, you visit "your" child about once a week in Ursberg and support him or her according to individual needs. You build up a respectful and loving relationship with him/her and spend fun and enjoyable hours with him/her. Playing, reading books aloud, painting, going for a walk - the activities are based on the child's interests and needs. 

What do we want to achieve with this project?

Our goal is to make it easier for these children and young people to socialise and integrate in Germany. The personal relationship with their mentor should also make it easier for them to process the trauma they have experienced and stabilise their mental state.

What does it mean to be a mentor?

The children need stability and a personal bond. Therefore, as a mentor:in, you take on a very responsible and long-term task. You build a friendship with the child, give them individual attention and support them according to their needs. You share your experiences and life skills with your mentee. Through this connection, not only the child learns and grows, but also you as a mentor.

Important: To become a mentor:in, you should reliably have time for your mentee in the coming year. A relationship breakdown would be very painful for the already traumatised child - we must avoid that.

Who can be a mentor?

You can apply if you:

• are 22 years or older,
• live near Ursberg (e.g. in Augsburg, Günzburg, Ulm, Munich and the surrounding area),
• would like to accompany a child or young person with a difficult fate on a long-term basis (one year),
• have time to visit their mentee in Ursberg once a week (e.g. at the weekend).

Furthermore:

• Additionally, it is an advantage if you already have experience in working with children with disabilities (but is not a requirement).
• You can speak at least one language: German or Russian or Ukrainian.
• Exclusion criterion: Persons who have been convicted of a criminal offence according to § 72a paragraph 1 sentence 1 SGB VIII cannot become mentors. Therefore, an inspection of the extended certificate of good conduct is required.
  

Is this activity paid?

No, mentoring is a voluntary activity. However, if needed, we can reimburse your expenses for travel to your mentee's home.

Do mentors receive training?

Yes, we offer free training to prepare you for your new task. The children and adolescents concerned live with difficult fates: lack of family support, growing up in a children's home, health problems and now war and the forced move to a foreign country. Therefore, it is necessary that you deal with the theoretical background in advance. We will also give you practical recommendations on how to deal with traumatised children.

Is it still allowed to cancel after the training?

Yes, participation in the training does not oblige you to become a mentor. If you decide after the training that this task does not suit you after all, that is fine. It is much better to cancel right away than after the first meeting with the child.

We look forward to receiving your application:

>> Yes, I would like to be a mentor!

Contact:

Julia Beisenov,

mentoren@take-my-hand.org