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Project “Pathfinders”
6. October 2005
“Pathfinders” is meant for 15-20 students from grades 5-9, who are in danger of falling into risk group (vagabondage, skiving off, bad relations with parents, low grades, crime alcohol, drugs). The same project is indirectly directed to teachers and parents, who have great impact on students at the age of 11-15.
The most important aim of “Pathfinders” is to prevent and/or change students’ negative behavior, acknowledge youngsters the importance of education and to improve their self-esteem. To achieve that we use both: individual and group techniques.
“Pathfinders” is a project that started in 1998 at Sikupilli Secondary School.
“Pathfinders” meet once a week after school approximately for one hour, usually at school, sometimes outside of school. We visit different exciting places, have discussions, arrange social theatre etc.
We have discussed different subjects and played situation games during the meetings. For example: how to say “NO” to drugs, finding compromises, empathy and sympathy, crime and punishment, prejudice, friendship, expressing feelings, listening, helping, memory, relationship between parents and children, charity, smoking, AIDS, studying, solving conflicts. We’ve been using different creative activity elements, like drawing, social theatre, fantasizing.
We’ve visited AIDS Prevention Center, almost all museums in Tallinn, churches, the parliament, army, Estonian National Library, jail, convent and other interesting organizations. We’ve also gone skating, practiced mountain climbing, played different ballgames, and had picnics.
Youngsters who have participated in the “Pathfinders” project say, that role and social games give them encourage to express themselves:
- I liked to let other now about my ideas and opinion and get feedback
- I understand things better, everybody are opened
- I think more about some things than I did before.
- That project makes children think, they don’t teach that in school.
The project, which lasts from fall to spring, ends every year with a hike. It has traditionally been a bit extreme – the hike takes place in forest or bog, where we hike and camp, all the food is cooked on campfire by children. Physical activity, healthy food, counting with each other, new situations and finding solutions to them – these are headwords of the hike.
History of the project:
1998-1999: Sikupilli High School, instructors Holly Rothrock, Kaire Kogermann, Tarmo Kurves and Kadri Leinuste.
1999-2000: Pae Gymnasium and Sikupilli High School, instructors Holly Rothrock, Kaire Kogermann, Tarmo Kurves abd Kadri Leinuste. In russian-speaking Pae Gymnasium Marina Melnikova.
2000-2001: Kalamaja Grammar School, instructors Merily Palk, Marge Teppan and Margit Markus.
2001-2002: Kalamaja Grammar School, instructors Merily Palk, Sabina Rand, Tuuli Elstrok, Patrik Rand and Marge Teppan.
2002-2003: Tallinn Co-Gymnasium, instructors Tuuli Elstrok, Signe Kirt, Patrik Rand and Sven Tasmuth.
2003-2004: Sikupilli High School, instructors Merily Palk, Janari Kintsiraud, Kristjan Rohioja, Maiu Niineste and Anastassia Parmson.
2006-2007: Sikupilli High School, instructors Marit Lepik, Eva Edovald, Tuuli Elstrok, Maria Hõbesalu, Helena Vänt, Keimo Kägu.
2007-2008: Järveotsa Gymnasium and Jakob Westholm Gymnasium, instructors Eva Edovald, Andres Torm, Keimo Kägu, Maarja Lehemets and Tuuli Elstrok from Estonian Children's Fund.
2008-2009: Tallinn Joint Gymnasium. Voluntary instructors: Mae Rae, Eva Edovald, Liis Lehemets, Tiina Sepp, Marit Lepik, Janne Jakobson and Helen Voog. And Tuuli Elstrok from Estonian Children's Fund.
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good, they know enough and know how to deal with these kids
