It’s been a long hard slog but we have finally got there. The Mercy Mission Mentoring programme is live and, definitely, kicking. Our first mentee, F, who wants to become a professional footballer, met with his mentor, Azza, a dentist from London this week.
The mentor programme aims to get children in care matched with business and sector professionals to provide them with a twelve month personal development programme. It will enable young people become more confident, understand their surroundings better and improve their health & wellbeing through practical and fun activities.
In a shopping centre, in South East London, they get to know each other better, sharing some stories, talking about hobbies and plan out what they want to achieve in the next year.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Azza asks her mentee what he wants to do when he is older, and like many youngsters, he wants to make it in the big leagues as a sports personality. It’s probably not the first time he has been asked the question but is definately the first time he has been made to think how he can get there.
F is a bright young guy who is really keen to be part of the programme. Even though his English is his second language, he tries hard to speak with his mentor in the session. The great thing is though, when he gets stuck, Azza speaks fluent Arabic, and they get through the first of twelve meets.
Before the scheduled phone call in a fortnight, she asks F to look into local football teams and start thinking about goals in his life, both on and off the pitch.
Stay tuned for my next blog – Kammy!