The Council Of European Jamaats

All the mentors are asked to attend a two and half day residential course (held at IEB, North London this year) for the mentor training weekend. Here they are thoroughly prepared for their role by formal lectures, presentations and also by discussions and through asking pertinent questions. Facilitators make sure the mentors receive rudimentary first aid skills, basic instructions for example for sport all the mentors are instructed what ‘warm ups’ and ‘warm downs’ are used to avoid unnecessary injuries. They are even given ‘power napping’ tips, to deal with the sleep deprivation that is so infamously associated with being a mentor at Sweden.  

All the campers with medical conditions and with special dietary requirements are discussed in depth, the mentors informed of the effects of the conditions and how to cope adequately at the camp. Crucially, advice is given by former mentors of their experiences, which is vital to any new mentor.  

The mentors collectively study the ‘DOOM’ document (‘Daily Objectives of Mentors’) which although thorough and seemingly cumbersome, is another tool which the mentors find to be of great use. Attendance at the training weekend, is useful for the Admin who use it as a chance to observe the mentors together, and thus forms the ‘mentor pairs.’ To do this, the admin look at two criteria: firstly whether the mentors compliment each other, and secondly whether the mentors can seek advice and support from one another. These two criteria are fundamental to any mentor partnership, which forms an important part of the Sweden experience for the campers.

The duties, responsibilities and all the undertakings of the mentors, on behalf of their campers, provide for a great deal of development for the mentor’s own social, personal, emotional and organisational skills. All this is observed by the administrators and by the lectures, who will discuss with the mentors their performance on certain occasions.  

In order to allow the mentors to perform their role effectively, the administrators of the camp have tailored the camp: 

Having the campers divided into groups of mixed ages, and from various Jamaats.
Having the ‘mentor pair’ having specific responsibility over 8 campers (called the ‘Planet.’)
Having the mentors coach, play and individually supervise the campers during sports, outdoor activities, personal development sessions.
Allowing the mentors to spend time with their ‘planet’ during allocated sessions, on the daily timetable: ‘planet time.’
Encouraging the mentors to pass certain skills onto their campers, often through informal discussions before bed time.
Having experienced, senior personnel available at the camp to not only observe but to guide the mentors.
To handpick mentors individually. Mentors are chosen for the skills they possess, the contribution they have already given to the community and for the potential they show as young aspiring community leaders. Other criteria used in the selection process include ability to deal with stress, time pressure, ability to work within a team and capacity to work with children of a similar age to the campers. Often the mentors have participated in earlier CoEJ organised educational programmes; where the behaviour, Ahklaaq and achievements come to the Administration’s attention.

Mentors are of crucial important to the Sweden Camps: they can make or break it. So, it is vital that they are chosen selectively in order to perform well. Past experience heavily suggests that the mentors’ achievements, skill, temperament, Akhlaaq, and character enrich the Camp, inspire the Campers and provide a conducive, supportive and enjoyable environment for learning and developing: allowing all including the Campers to strive ‘towards excellence.’