Mentori

After watching your message on TV, I decided to give a contribution describing my experience which took place a few years ago. When I was eleven I started a new journey in my life, in other words I started attending middle school and I had to face a huge mountain which seemed insurmountable. I did not know much about my father, he seemed to me like a stranger in the house, but it was then, for almost three years, that a new relationship started, not one such as father – daughter but as a master – disciple. He taught me important things and above all the love for mathematics, sciences and knowledge. I still remember our Sundays and our many Mondays spent together doing mathematics and geometry contests. He once told me that what he was giving me I had to return it to others, and thus at fifteen, I started helping troubled kids whose family asked for help to oratories in order to help them finding enthusiasm in life. Now I am here to give you my little and modest help.

Maria Pia, 44 - Milan

The path I started with the group has represented an important and unforgettable imprint for my personal and professional training. I have to say that joining Manoja, has been initially not an easy condition since she is a child who lives between two cultures and often words, gestures, and meanings needed more attentions and explanation from me compared to a child who has behind him or her a family with a Western cultural background. Following elements and aims of Mentoring, I built since the beginning a relationship of equality with her, reciprocity and provided her many opportunities for reflection and examples on which to confront each other by telling many personal experiences.She hasmany difficulties to be open and especially she is not used to asking questions, but I must say that during our meetings I saw an improvement in her which especially regarded self-esteem and autonomy. These considerations have been supported by the fact that Manoja and I are now friends and I follow her more often in her daily homework, she seems more confident and firm, she has learned to use positively the fact to count on someone else and in my opinion this is the most important achievement she could reach, being able to trust someone else and feeling to have someone beside her who offer a true and sympathetic relationship.

As far as I am concerned, I learned to add essential elements for an efficient interpersonal communication, based on sympathy, reciprocity and active listening, the latter element has allowed me to tear down prejudices and look at the world through eyes others than mine, appreciating and valuating the contribution of a 12 year old child girl who with so much naivety teaches you the willingness to discover, understand, and acknowledge the Other.

Elvisa Virga, Secondary School Borgese, Palermo