Educational equality through mentoring

Despite significant social progress, a child’s educational success in Germany continues to be strongly influenced by their social, economic, and family background. The mentoring programme ‘Balu und Du im Rheinischen Revier’ (Balu and You in the Rhineland Region) addresses precisely this issue: it offers primary school children from disadvantaged backgrounds individual support provided by young, trained mentors aged between 17 and 30. These are known as ‘Balus’.

The volunteer tandems respectively consist of a ‘Balu’ and a ‘Mogli’, i.e. a primary school child. Over the course of a year, they regularly spend time together – one to three hours a week – and undertake everyday activities. The focus lies on informal learning. Without the pressure to perform at school, the children benefit from their older role models, develop new interests and skills, and experience social and emotional support.

These personal relationships promote self-confidence, resilience and joy of life. 

Focus of foundation: Equal opportunities
Target group: Children