Margrita van der Hoek believes that just like there are risk factors for youth, there are also protective factors that help young people thrive. These exist at different levels (individual, family, school, peer groups, community etc.) Evidence-based Mentoring programs focused on life skills have proven to be very effective and are a way of working at community level to support our youth and contribute in a structural way to a happier and healthier environment for all. Margrita will speak at the Open Circle about her experiences with teenagers and how Lakeside residents are and can become involved in the mentoring program. Margrita is Certified in Youth Resilience Coaching, Youth Well-being Coaching and Executive Coaching and runs her private practice “Veredas Coaching.”