The mentoring project is more than the mentoring itself; it also includes various activities, from English classes to the knitting workshop, passing through to the sewing and math classes. The activities are open to all current and former mentees, as well as to the people we provide one-to-one and self-advocacy support.
I have been working at The Forum as an intern for more than a month now, and I feel I have a precious opportunity to be part of such an interesting project. I would say that the activities, as much as the mentoring matches, are the results of an encounter between people, knowledge, countries and experiences. On the one hand, there are the “teachers,” who are willing to dedicate their time and knowledge with passion and patience, and at the same time stay open to be taught by their students to challenge any traditional way of teaching and to be creative in their methods. On the other hand, there are individuals with different needs and reasons for being there. While learning something new and acquiring new skills is always the fundamental reason for users to join the activities, I soon realised that there is much more to it than that: it is also about being together in a welcoming environment, sharing time in a meaningful way with people you feel comfortable with, being part of a group, structuring daily life with a routine, and improving the quality of one's life.
In the last weeks I have been going around, popping in class-to-class with a small camera and a few questions in mind, with the purpose of collecting feedback from the activities. The students from the different classes reacted in different ways: some were shyer and didn’t want to be on the screen; others couldn’t wait to give their comments to the camera! All of them, however, mentioned their satisfaction with the courses.
The sewing class was thrilling, noisy and coloured. When I popped in, the chatter of the women mixed with the drone of the sewing machines. They were all more than happy to talk to me and show the outcomes of their works. “I have learnt to be patient,” “I am happy I learned this new ability; before, I didn’t know how to sew,” “I like the people.” The English class was more quiet; the students looked focused and involved, and at the same, they were sitting in a circle around the table, which made the atmosphere comfortable and relaxed. And then there was Maths, which looked surprisingly fun: numbers, graphics, definitions... the board was packed! “Mathematics for everyday life,” one of the students told me. “We are learning something useful,” another one said. Last but not least, I visited the knitting class, which conveyed to me a warm sense of community. Again the comments from the participants confirmed my first impression: “It’s all about being together and progressing in skills by sharing knowledge with each other."
It has been another skillful and thrilling year at The Forum. We learnt English, knitted scarves, sewed dresses, learnt everyday life Maths, performed a music concert and attended great performances during the Cultural Fridays. Photo sessions, art workshops and talks on health helped improve our members’ knowledge and wellbeing.
We are having a break during the summer; hopefully you will put in practice your new skills and come back in September even more willing to learn!
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