Reaching out to one child affects an entire community .
The simple truth is: the more positive examples, education, or opportunities young people have in their lives, the more chances they have to succeed in today's world as providers, protectors and mentors to their own children and community.
Our Community-Based Mentoring program is a one-year program in which the Big and Little consistently meet 3-4 times a month.* Matches are made with considerations to such things as geographic location, interests, activities and personalities.
Getting together is a great time for both Bigs and Littles. It doesn’t require a special occasion or expensive activities; just a few times every month sharing simple things you already enjoy with a young person. Things like….
Who are the Volunteers?
Community-Based mentors vary in age, gender, professions and interests. One quality all mentors share is the desire to offer emotional support, guidance, consistency, and friendship. Through a mentor's encouragement, a boy or girl can achieve his/her potential.
In our Partners Program, the match also meets 2-4 times a month for a minimum of one year. What differentiates this program is that a child is mentored by two people committed to fostering a relationship, rather than just one. The Partners Program is for the mentoring of a Little Brother.
Who are the Youth?
Children in the Community-Based Mentoring program are kids who could greatly benefit from additional adult guidance. Boys and girls are referred to the program for many reasons, including strained family and peer relationships and lack of self-confidence. Many children come from homes where quality adult attention is limited by single-parenthood, many siblings or transitional housing, including foster care. Others may be immigrants trying to adjust to a new culture. Whatever the circumstances, these children need an adult in their lives who is caring, consistent, knows how to listen and can be a good role model.
How do the children benefit?
Children in the Community-Based Mentoring Program develop self-confidence and improve their relationships with both adults and their peers. Mentors support, take an active interest in, give encouragement to, and help boost self-confidence in the child.
How do the Volunteers benefit?
Community-Based mentors have the opportunity to watch a child become happier and more successful academically and socially. Most importantly, they develop a fun and lasting friendship.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we also provide for cross-gender matches of Little Brothers. The maximum age limit of the Little Brother is twelve years.
* Time commitments indicated are the minimum requirements only. It is the hope that the match will continue for much longer.
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