"I feel positive working with Nia, because she is always happy to see me. I am proud of helping my mentee come out of her shell."
In lessons, she struggled to complete tasks, follow instructions and focus on her work. Unsure of how to ask for help or how to address conflict in a constructive way, Aliyah needed some support.
Power2 Thrive gives young people the chance to mentor nursery children and build skills in communication, resilience and self-esteem. The programme helps them discover the areas they most thrive in and to find purpose in learning.
From the very start of the programme, Aliyah told her Programme Lead, Ella, that she wanted to improve her confidence and become more assertive. Aliyah was also invested in supporting the children at the primary school.
Ella introduced Aliyah to the ‘self-esteem flower,’ a creative activity where young people write their personal strengths on the petals of a flower template. This activity helped her to recognise and celebrate her qualities and to believe in herself more.
Aliyah also enjoyed the ‘Me Time’ session, where the young people spoke about the importance of making space for themselves. It gave Aliyah a chance to reflect on her hobbies and interests, and how they can support her overall wellbeing.
During the programme, Aliyah was paired with her toddler mentee, Nia, who was also shy. Over the weeks, Aliyah went above and beyond to support her mentee with activities, learning and creative play. One of their favourite activities was having tea parties out in the playground together.
Aliyah gently encouraged Nia to try new things, and she began to open up more.
“I feel positive working with Nia, because she is always happy to see me. I am proud of helping my mentee come out of her shell,” said Aliyah.
Every week, Aliyah showed up with enthusiasm and kindness. Learning to communicate with Nia inspired Aliyah to express her thoughts and feelings more confidently, both verbally and non-verbally. Ella said:
Aliyah’s ability to mirror her mentees energy and ensure the sessions were always fun and educational was outstanding. She has been such a light for Nia.
This growing confidence soon carried over into school where teachers began to see significant progress in Aliyah’s school engagement and learning.
Aliyah’s mum also noticed a change. She said, “I personally believe that [the programme] gave my daughter an outlet, allowing her to see her potential. She really immersed herself in the opportunity, and she was enthusiastic. I was very happy to see she was happy.”
By the end of the programme, Aliyah had found her voice. She could ask for her wants and needs, showed leadership skills with her mentee and spoke with ease to her teachers and peers. Exploring her strengths through activities like the self-esteem flower and applying new skills through mentoring a younger child helped her step into her full potential.
Well done, Aliyah!
