Arzu Değirmenci Deniz Akpınar

Background

Children of migrants are primarily represented at lower qualifying schools, the Haupt- and Realschule

A quarter of the children of migrants go to the Gymnasium (higher qualifying school). In contrast, this rate is one third (!) among children without a migrant background

High drop-out rates

Reasons/Factors

Parents: lack of sufficient knowledge about the German education system

Teachers: Underestimation of the learning abilities and potential of children of migrants

Society: the term “high share of migrants” is used as a synonym for “problems”

Situation of Mentees

Live in neighbourhoods with a high ratio of migrants

Go mostly to Haupt-, Real- or Gesamtschulen Get less qualitative support from their parents Must deal with teachers’ prejudices Often no lack of knowledge/skills in Maths,

English or German, but rather, a lack of self-confidence, motivation and future prospects

Mentor-Mentee Relationship

A greater identification with the mentors through similar biographies

A greater acceptance of the mentors through similar linguistic and cultural backgrounds

Motivation to travel abroad, to study, to engage with society

Mentoring

Primary Objectives :

Social and emotional companionship

Subject-specific tutoring Orientation for school

career/course of study and job prospects

Mentors Have a migration background

themselves “Experience experts” Successful graduates of the

German higher secondary education system

Close in age to the mentees “Big brother”/“Older friend” (no solid

relationship, relationship constantly changing)

Contact with parents (same mother tongue!)

Mentoring at verikom

Pilot project begun in December 2004 under the name “Kendi”

Initially 20 Turkish-speaking mentors Further extended to include, among others,

Russian, Arab, Polish and Afghan mentors Since February 2007 known under the name

“Junge Vorbilder” [young role models] Now ca. 120 mentors

“Junge Vorbilder”

Basic and advanced trainings Regular mentors’ meeting to share experiences One-on-one support at the mentees’ homes Mentors earn money (not volunteers!!) Currently 80 active mentor-mentee pairs Project aim: local offices in different neighbourhoods

Schools Cooperation with schools in heterogeneous

neighbourhoods Cooperation with school coordinators (contact

person) Institutional mediation of the project Cooperation with 10 schools

Results

Mentees got better grades at school A positive impact on the general learning climate

increased awareness of the mentees’ potential Parents became more involved in school affairs and

prouder of their children Increased project participation by word-of-mouth

(recommendation within families, neighbourhoods etc.) Increased interest in cooperation from schools and

foundations

Special Features

Culture of recognition From mentor to project assistent to trainer Project leader? Flexible hierarchical structure Contact with mentors on an interpersonal

level Young leaders from the communities – new

for Germany??

Thank you!Thank you!

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