The charity assists children who face systemic barriers and who have suffered trauma from an early age. Friends of the Children - New York provides a professional mentor for each child and they work together from kindergarten to high school graduation. Each week, the mentor helps the child discover his potential by working on 9 key personal strengths (self-management, perseverance and grit, problem solving skills, and others...). This long-term support allows children to overcome personal, systemic and institutional obstacles that were in front of them.