ACTIVITIES

• Velika sestra veliki brat (VSVB) - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Croatia (BBBS)
• Sister-program in correctional institutions for young offenders (Turopolje and Požega)

Mentoring program Velika sestra veliki brat is the Croatian version of the most famous mentoring program in the world - Big Brothers Big Sisters. At the end of 1997, Centre for Social Policy Initiatives, with the support of American colleagues from Big Brothers Big Sisters International, adapted the original program to the Croatian circumstances. CSPI implements the program continuously since 1997.

The goal of the VSVB program is to provide the support of a specially selected and trained volunteer (Big) to every child (Little) in the program, during 12 months period.
Children - beneficiaries of VSVB program are 6 to 16 years old, and they need the additional support of a friendly adult in order to develop self-confidence, social skills, interests, enrich their social network and the opportunities for constructive spare-time activities.

Volunteer-mentor spends up to 5 hours per week with the child, in structured spare-time activities and friendship, with the purpose of empowering the child and reducing the probability of developing behavioral problems.

The basis of the program is the common effort of professionals (social educators) and volunteers.
Volunteers, besides spending time in activities with their Little, participate in education, regular supervision/ support by professionals, and group activities with children. The volunteers also have the opportunity to be involved in organisational part of the program, such as organisation of short excursions, fundraising, help with the administration, etc.
Any young person who meets the criteria of motivation, spare-time, and personal competencies important for individual work with children can become our volunteer-mentor (Big Sister/ Big Brother).
The role of professionals is assessing the potentials of volunteers, assessing the needs of children, matching the child and the volunteer, monitoring the development of every Little - Big relationship, and education/ training and supervision od volunteers.

If you need additional information, please write to velikasestra.velikibrat@gmail.com or visit  our blog for volunteers !

This pilot-project was implemented from 2001 to 2003, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.
The volunteers, students of the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation - Department for Behavioural Problems, served as mentors-"models" to young people from the correctional institutions. The mentor/ mentoring relationship helped in the preparation of the young for the discharge from the institution and their return to the community.
In order to ensure the largest benefit possible for the young, volunteers participated in education and regular supervisions. The educators from the institutions were offered the additional education and support for the participation in the program.