Following on from the initial project meeting held on 20 March, a second youth project development workshop was held at the Peace Embassy, Thornton Heath, on 1 May. Working under the title "Reaching Youth through Group Mentoring", 15 participants convened to plan a project launch event and receive practical guidance through facilitated role-play exercises. Various suggestions were put forward for the launch event, such as a talent show, or a debate concerning the future of our communities following the upcoming general election. The location (indoor or outdoor), youth recruitment, and style of event were discussed and the UPF project committee will evaluate the alternatives in the coming weeks. The second part of the program gave us the opportunity to experience realistic scenarios to enable participants to learn about the challenges of connecting with disaffected youth and how young people can become disengaged from society. The role plays were expertly facilitated by Mr Sheridan Mangal of the SFM Foundation, who brought his experience of real-life mentoring exchanges into the exercises. Finally, an Ambassador for Peace award was presented to Mr Mangal in recognition of his selfless commitment to working with youth and his innovative projects such as "A Talent for the City" which have encouraged young people to fulfil their potential.
Young Achievers
Youth Mentoring in Thornton Heath
- Written by: Robin Marsh