How to strengthen socio-emotional, relational and pro-social skills through peer tutoring at school: the project “La Banca del Tempo”. First findings

Abstract

The growth and frequency of phenomena such as depression and anxiety disorders among young people, suicides, bullying, and school dropout call for institutions attending young people to focus on these issues and, above all, try and set concrete counteraction. The peer-tutoring project “La Banca del Tempo” is based on teaching and learning strategies among peers. It was initiated to promote solidarity and cooperation between tutors and tutees belonging to different schools. Empathy and interaction skills are, in fact, fundamental elements of any support network that promotes learning, and not only in a didactical sense. The focus of the project is on the tutees as well as on the tutors, who undergo adequate training. The research aims to contribute to the validation of the peer tutoring experience as a tool for transversal skill-building i.e. the building of life skills that are considered to be protective factors in the context of prevention and control of youth distress. The research method is a mixed quantitative-qualitative method (questionnaires, observations, “guided” diaries, in-depth interviews, focus groups). The results will be available in spring of 2020. The analysis of the indepth interviews shows a rise in relational and didactic skills as well as the acquirement of self-esteem and self-awareness.