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