The Nightingale Scheme - A Song For The Heart

Abstract

This book is about a series of encounters which had an immediate impact and left a lasting impression. For over a period of ten years, Nightingale has facilitated nine hundred such meetings between individual children of age 8-12 and University students. These are meetings where the differences between both sides have been an advantage, as the whole idea was to get to see the "other" person as an individual and not as a spokesperson for a particular group, religion or ethnic identity.

This book can be seen as a record of Nightingale's achievements to date in the context of celebrations surrounding its 10 year anniversary. It seeks to convey the philosophy, aims and practical targets which inform the whole project, whilst at the same time giving a voice to the children, mentors and parents involved. Fourteen interviews have been made with children (now of high school age) who once had a mentor. These interviews are an important part of the book.