THE PRACTICE
SOS Children’s Villages Sweden has developed
a professional mentorship programme for
unaccompanied and separated children who live
with relatives or family friends in independent
housing arrangements. The programme was
launched in early 2017 and is currently imple-
mented in the city district of Angered with plans
to expand it to other municipalities in 2018 and
2019.
Social services refer unaccompanied and sepa-
rated children who have been granted residence
in Sweden to the mentorship programme.
Individuals are free to decide whether or not
they would like to participate in it. Once en-
rolled on the programme, children are assigned
a professional mentor who provides long-term
individual support.
I learn Swedish; I learn about what is right for me in the
future; I get help in how to apply for a job and get an
apartment. I also get help with my homework.
19-year-old boy from Ethiopia, former unaccompanied child
The mentoring programme is set up in SOS
Children’s Villages’ Youth Centre, where
children participate in workshops and infor-
mation sessions, do their homework, socialise
with peers and friends, meet with their mentors
or get advice when their designated mentor is
unavailable.
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The services offered by mentors are made up of
three core areas: social orientation; leisure time,
culture and networks; and education and work:
• Social orientation activities are designed
to help children to learn more about Sweden,
to build links with local communities and
to cope with the challenges of everyday life.
Examples of such activities include language
cafés, study visits, excursions and training
workshops offering skills such as managing
personal finances or cooking.
• Activities in the area of leisure time,
culture and networks encourage children
to participate in social and cultural events
outside of school and home. Mentors inspire
children to try new activities and accompany
them when necessary, or mentors organise
events for other organisations and services in
order for them to present their activities to
the youths in the programme.
• In the education and work area, children
are offered services such as educational
workshops, help with homework, workplace
visits and help with CVs, job applications and
internships. SOS Children’s Villages works
with a strong network of partners to provide
education and employment opportunities.