Posted: 10/12/2008
Asha has recently introduced a fresh initiative to motivate, encourage and support school leavers from the slums. This year Asha successfully helped many young slum dwellers in their applications to college and continued to support them through their first year of studies. There is an ever present need for forward planning in order to prepare future students for college and encourage them to apply. In response to this, Asha has initiated a mentoring program in which present college students from the slums will mentor those in 12th standard (the pre-university year in the Indian education system) and in turn 12th standard students will do the same for those in 10th and 11th standard.
2008 successful college applicants set to become mentors in 2009
The college students have taken to the scheme with enthusiasm and have already shown alacrity in choosing 12th standard students for mentoring. In their role as a mentor, they will encourage and support the younger students through weekly meetings and occasional workshops at Asha centers situated in their locality. The aim is to provide them with guidance and support across a range of topics such as study skills, communication skills, personality development and many others, in order to prepare them for college life. In addition to this, mentors will also build relationships with the student's parents in order to inform them about the importance of education and advise them on how they can make their home an environment conducive to study.
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Since joining Asha's women's group I have learnt new skills and have a lot more knowledge. If people can’t get their child admitted to school, or if they are sick, or if they want to open a bank account, I can help them with all these things.
Anwari, Kalkaji
