This is a group mentoring intervention for students at a high risk of dropping out of school. The aim is to reduce school dropout and improve academic performance.
The intervention seeks to improve relationships between students and teachers, develop life and study skills, and offer community assistance resources. Each group consists of 6 to 8 students and 2 volunteer mentors from the school staff or community, and takes place on a weekly basis during the fall and spring semesters.
Mentors apply a curriculum with specific activities for each phase:
1) Formation;
2) Deliberation;
3) Structuring; and
4) Performance.
The curriculum encourages the use of creativity and aims to create a safe and welcoming environment that makes it easier for students to bond with the school and provides support to face the obstacles that hinder good academic performance and personal development.