Amachi Program
It is estimated that in San Diego County alone, more than 15,000 children have a parent in prison. For that reason, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego has once again decided to step into the gap and provide mentors to some of San Diego's most worthy children. Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County partners with local nonprofit organizations and faith-based organizations to recruit volunteers for this program.
Amachi is a West African Ibo word meaning “Who knows but what God has brought us through this child." The Amachi program dates to 2001, and was the result of a collaborative think tank which included the University of Pennsylvania, Pew Charitable Trust, Public Private Ventures, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Then, as now, the mission was/is to break the intergenerational cycle of crime and incarceration and give a forgotten (invisible) group of children the chance to reach their highest potential. Using the Community-Based Mentoring and AMACHI models, BBBS in San Diego County serves children ages 7-18 whose parent(s) are incarcerated.
For answers to some frequently asked questions about the Amachi program, please click here.
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