Families and adults living in rural areas are invited to join a special rehabilitation program for teenagers with difficult life experiences, becoming mentors and providing young people with the opportunity to live in a family environment, reported association representative Diana Vitola.
Participants in the program are rewarded with a salary ranging from 1580 to 2000 euros per month. An employment contract is also signed as part of the program.
At the same time, expenses for the teenager's medical care, specialist consultations, clothing, utility bills, and other related needs are covered, allowing the caregiver to fully dedicate their time to supporting the young person.
The program provides for the teenager to live with a mentor or family in a rural area, in houses located outside urban centers. Daily life is organized at a calm pace — with shared meals, studying, completing household chores, spending free time, and building trust. The mentor becomes an adult the teenager can rely on while helping them acquire everyday skills and build healthy relationships.
Applications are invited from people living in rural areas who are willing to live with the teenager, are calm and patient, and are ready to cooperate with a team of professionals and adhere to a unified approach. A driver's license and a car are also required.
Agnes Igauņa, the director of the family strengthening program at the Latvian Association of SOS Children's Villages, notes that teenagers participating in the program often have complex life experiences, including encounters with substance abuse or offenses, but they all share a lack of safe relationships in their families.
"Participation in the rehabilitation program, as well as the involvement of mentors and specialists, provides an opportunity for a teenager who initially trusts no one to gradually restore faith in themselves and others," emphasizes Igauņa.
The association reports that families and mentors in the program receive regular support from a team of professionals — social workers, psychologists, and other specialists monitor the development of each teenager, providing assistance both in daily life and in crisis situations. It is noted that in case of difficulties or crises, a social worker is available 24/7 throughout the program period.
The program is designed for an average period of two to three years and aims to achieve sustainable changes in the teenager's life.
Support for the teenager in the program can be provided by a family, a couple, or one adult. Families with experience in raising children often turn out to be the most suitable, but each application is considered individually, the association emphasizes.
More detailed information about the opportunity to become a mentor can be obtained from the Latvian Association of SOS Children's Villages by calling 23778606 or writing to darbs@sosbca.lv.
