Social role of one-to-one mentoring as a volunteer practice for the prevention of child abuse and neglect and socialization of children in difficult life situations in Russia

Оbjectives: to determine the role of one-to-one mentoring for orphans in Russia. Methods: the orphans or children (age 11-17) left without parental care filled up the surveys. For 1-8 years long-term one-to-one mentoring... [ view full abstract ]

Оbjectives: to determine the role of one-to-one mentoring for orphans in Russia.
Methods: the orphans or children (age 11-17) left without parental care filled up the surveys. For 1-8 years long-term one-to-one mentoring (mentor’s personal obliged to visit the mentee at the orphanage at least once a week and for a period of time longer than a year) was supported and supervised by professional psychologists.
Results and conclusions: The National Russian Campaign to prevent abuse, neglect and abandonment of children had increased the number of orphans and social orphans placed in substitute families. However, a lot of the at-risk teenagers are left at the orphanages. Identified social role of mentoring in motivating children who are in difficult life situations and traumatized by early childhood deprivation: increasing self-esteem, self-confidence, the emergence of motivation to learning and education. 46% of mentees improved self-confidence; 45% of mentees became more independent; 36% of mentees improved communication skills; 44% of mentees expanded social connections; 52% of mentees now have a clearer vision of their future; 42% of mentees became more responsible; 33% of mentees gained interest to social life; 51% of mentees became better organized. The social role of mentoring in motivating traumatized at-risk children was established: self-confidence, motivation to study and get to college.