MENTORING PROGRAM IS NOVELTY IN REDUCING RECURRENCE AT CHILDREN
MENTORING PROGRAM IS NOVELTY IN REDUCING RECURRENCE AT CHILDREN

Summary/Abstract: Prevention of juvenile delinquency and reducing recidivism at children in conflict with the law are the basic objectives of the juvenile justice reform in the Republic of Macedonia. However, eight out of ten convicted children are later accused of new offenses. The mentoring programme helps for reducing this high level of offense recidivism. The main idea is to create alternative models for supporting children with their active participation in the accomplishment of their best interests. The mentoring programme is a revolutionary novelty in the juvenile justice system in the country. This is a possibility for the children in conflict with the law to cooperate with a mentor who represents an example of a person with positive behavior. Each child needs to take a leaf out of somebody's book, a positive example that can guide and support them. The parents and guardians (hereinafter called: parents) also play significant role in the programme. One of the specific programme objectives is to enhance the knowledge, skills and sensitivity of the parents, to promote responsible parenthood, healthy family relations, support and encouragement for the child.The programme accomplished excellent results with the mentors and the children. When the mentors were asked how this programme changed them, all the mentors agreed that the programme made them more decisive, patient, tolerant, dedicated, and ambitious. The mentors gained greater personal confidence, and also learned how to adapt to difficult situations and how to resolve problems. In the course of the programme they enhanced their professional knowledge. All of them stated that the programme opened new horizons about their lives and work. The children gained independence, self-confidence and the results in the school significantly improved. The mentoring programme also had positive impact in the family relations. The children understood the importance of the personal development. They enhanced their self-control, and learned how to be punctual and to respect other people. The children learned how to efficiently use the indicated resources. They regularly attended the foreign language and computer training courses, and also attended the medical examinations. All the children continued their education and have a precise idea what would they like to do in the year to come.

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