YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION IS OUR DESIRE TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE ACHIEVE A SECURE TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD
YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
Our Youth Mentoring Program in Guatemala provides coordinated support to young people, aged 18-25, transitioning into adulthood who are affected by the generational impacts of poverty and a lack of emotional and relational connection with their peers. For this reason, we offer young people the opportunity to be accompanied by a Christian mentor, receive guidance in developing life skills, support during times of crisis, and practical assistance.
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Mentors can play a vital role in the lives of vulnerable youth, walking alongside them to improve their life opportunities while building a close, trusting relationship rooted in our hope—the Gospel.
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We believe that every individual matters and that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive help for meaningful change.
TESTIMONY
"SINCE HAVING MENTORING SESSIONS, I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AND SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENT IN MYSELF. HAVING SOMEONE TO TALK TO AND DEBRIEF WITH HAS HELPED MY MENTAL WELL-BEING AND I COULDN'T BE MORE THANKFUL".
YESSICA
OUR PARTNERS
Nicodemus collaborates with three key partners in Guatemala: Time of Rescue, My Special Treasure Girls Residential Home, and My Special Treasure Education Centre. These partnerships are crucial in providing comprehensive support to at-risk youth in Guatemala via our Youth Mentoring Program.​​
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TIME OF RESCUE
This project focuses on rescuing street youth, providing them with immediate care and support. The youth entering our mentoring program from Time of Rescue often come from challenging backgrounds, including homelessness and exposure to street violence.
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MY SPECIAL TREASURE GIRLS RESIDENTIAL HOME
This special place provides a safe and nurturing environment for severely abused, neglected, or abandoned teenage girls. The girls entering our mentoring program have often faced significant trauma and require a stable, supportive environment to heal and grow.
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MY SPECIAL TREASURE EDUCATION CENTRE
The Education Centre serves children whose parents work on the local rubbish dump in Chimaltenango. These children often face extreme poverty and lack access to basic educational resources. The Education Centre provides not only education but also spiritual, nutritional and medical support.
TESTIMONY
"MENTORING IS A TWO-WAY TRUSTWORTHY RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE ADMIRE THE GIFTS AND QUALITIES OF EACH OTHER."
ANDREA GUTIERREZ,
MENTOR
YOUTH MENTORING THAT GOES THE DISTANCE
Our Youth Mentoring Program was born out of a pressing need—too many young people were slipping through the cracks. While many organisations, including our partners, offer vital support for vulnerable children, most interventions end when those young people turn 18. Without ongoing guidance, many are left to face adulthood alone. Our program steps into that gap, ensuring that young adults at the highest risk continue to receive the mentorship they need to build stable, fulfilling lives.
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At the heart of our work is a long-term, one-on-one mentoring model. Our committed volunteer mentors—some of whom are former mentees themselves—are trained through our comprehensive Youth Mentoring Course. This training equips them with essential tools: how to build strong, trust-based relationships, listen actively, challenge limiting beliefs, and use coaching techniques to support growth and change.
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We believe effective mentoring is grounded in two key pillars: trust and respect, and equipping young people with the tools they need to set goals, make wise decisions, and create lasting change in their lives.
MONTHLY ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS
In addition to one-to-one mentoring, we run monthly group activities for our mentees and their mentors. These sessions are designed to:
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Empower young people to take ownership of their personal growth.
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Provide safe spaces for young adults to voice their needs, ideas, and solutions.
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Strengthen mentor-mentee relationships through shared learning experiences.
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Gather valuable insights to continually improve our program.
A key feature of these gatherings is our Skills for Youth in Transition course. This practical workshop series equips young people with essential life skills, covering topics such as:
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Housing
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Budgeting and saving
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Interview techniques and CV writing
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Gang and grooming awareness
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Circles of influence
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Managing emotions
Each participant receives a printed guide for each topic, filled with exercises and reflective questions that can be explored further during mentoring sessions.
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These gatherings also include times of Bible study, group reflection, and prayer, nurturing both personal and spiritual growth in a supportive community setting.