New Friends New Life Partners With Richland College for Student Mentoring Program
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) July 08, 2015 -- New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces a new pilot program with the Community Engagement & Service Learning department at Richland College in Dallas. The program, called “Learning Power,” allows for college students to go into the community’s schools and serve as mentors to elementary age children whose mothers are survivors of human trafficking.
Two days a month, during the New Friends New Life Children and Youth Program, the participants in “Learning Power” will join their assigned child for group and one-on-one activities. Together, the more than 20 mentors and children will learn about emotional intelligence, engage in games and activities that make these lessons practical, and build strong, trusting relationships.
“By providing access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health and spiritual support, New Friends New Life helps women and their children overcome backgrounds of abuse, addiction, poverty and limited opportunities. We are incredibly grateful to the students from Richland College for committing their time to connect with our children. Having a college student to look up to, to see as a role model and confidant, gives them a renewed sense of what is possible and helps them navigate the road ahead so that they can reach their full potential,” said Katie Pedigo, executive director of New Friends New Life.
“Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities,” explained John Daniels, community engagement & service learning coordinator at Richland College. “Our program is designed to strengthen the ability of students so that they can take creative control in the learning process by mastering basic skills in self management, collaboration and strategic thinking. We hope to help the children at New Friends New Life learn these valuable skills from college students, as well as plant the seed for what lies ahead for them.”
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New Friends New Life, founded in 1998, restores and empowers formerly trafficked girls and sexually exploited women and their children. By providing access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health and spiritual support, New Friends New Life helps women and their children overcome backgrounds of abuse, addiction, poverty and limited opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214) 965-0935.
Jennifer Baylis, Minerva Consulting, 469-656-4532, [email protected]
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