Foster student excels academically with mentor support in Skælskør, Denmark

Fifteen-year-old Liv Pedersen arrives home from school to Bente Grathwohl’s residence in Skælskør, comfortably flopping onto the sofa and opening her laptop. “I need to write a book report on ‘Englebarnet’ by Kim Fupz Aakeson,” she shares. Bente and her husband, Niels, eagerly engage in conversation with Liv about how to find information about the author.

Liv has been with a foster family since childhood, and four years ago, Bente became her mentor through the program “Lær for Livet” (Learn for Life). This relationship has positively impacted Liv both academically and personally. “I think I’ve become better at trusting myself. You can also see it in my grades. I used to get really poor marks, but after I received help and things were explained differently, it worked better,” Liv states, noting her improvement from grades of 2 and 4 to now receiving 10 and 12.

Bente and Niels celebrate Liv’s achievements. “When you came down and said, ‘I know what percentage calculation is,’ we were so excited we were almost ready to pop open a bottle of champagne,” Bente recalls.

Currently, 500 vulnerable children and adolescents are supported by the “Lær for Livet” organization, which pairs them with adult mentors. These children typically start the six-year program between the ages of 9 and 13. Mentors and children meet two to four times a month and participate in camps and local events, with the organization working in collaboration with 35 municipalities.

Liv regularly visits Bente and Niels, learning skills such as sewing and enjoying outings together. Their bond transcends the mentor-mentee relationship; Liv likens them to grandparents. She aspires to be a veterinarian, which requires her to achieve high grades in school.