Through our work providing underprivileged youth 1:1 mentorship, we learned that many find it hard to formulate goals because they are not aware of the many opportunities before them. This project evolves our mentorship program, widening its impact by providing career-focused training to a whole high-school class at a time. Delivering career workshops, our volunteers act as role models and show participating students the importance of education for building a satisfying, self-sustained life.
For thousands of youths growing up in underprivileged communities in Bulgaria, the size or socio-economic status of their family or community determine the breadth of their interests and the span of their dreams. When they graduate from school, they are often unsure what direction to choose in life, an uncertainty that puts them at risk to engage in criminal activity. To many of them, the alternatives they are familiar with after graduation are a low-paying menial job at home or emigration.
Through regular visits in schools serving underprivileged communities, our volunteers provide assistance to more than one hundred Bulgarian youths. Acting as role models, our volunteers show participating students the importance of education and attending school for building a satisfying, self-sustained life. Through interactive games, they teach the youths how to protect their personal rights, reflect on the skills they possess and develop self-confidence and autonomy.
The project will provide over 100 high-school students from three schools in underprivileged communities with professional counseling and access to volunteers with various professions. This will encourage them to develop the skills necessary to build a satisfying, self-sustained life. Furthermore, it will plant a seed in the communities we're working with, indirectly influencing many more people from the social circles of participating students.
