Adult mentor program believes it takes a whole village to raise a child
Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinator Ann Armstrong is a firm believer in the adage that it takes a village to raise a single child.
Osoyoos Elementary School will soon be getting a new program to help enhance student confidence and self-esteem by adding a new person into a child's life.
The In-School Mentoring Program offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Okanagan, pairs a child with an adult mentor.
Although the mentor and child spend their time together at school (one hour per week during the school year), the focus is not on doing schoolwork.
The child and adult mentor instead will participate in a fun activity, such as playing a game, playing sports, computer activities, taking a walk together or just hanging out and talking. The idea is to have some one-on-one time between a child and his or her adult mentor.
An added benfit to the child in the mentoring relationship is often better concentration and improved grades in school.
A child who is not happy doesn't perform well, Armstrong noted. She was in Osoyoos last week to meet with potential volunteer mentors and to talk about the program.
The schools have been very receptive. Our focus now is on finding volunteers.
We try to match up mentors and children with similar skills, interests and personalities. The goal is to build friendships, said Armstrong.
The In-School Mentoring Program has been in Canada for ten years but this is the first year it has been in the South Okanagan.
Given the population of retired seniors in Osoyoos and the South Okanagan, Armstrong wants to reach out to recruit those seniors who may have the time to devote an hour a week to mentoring a child.
The perception is that most of the volunteers are in their 20s, and we welcome those people.
But we find that adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s may be able to manage their working lives better and are able to give some time to volunteering.
Older volunteers, and seniors in particular, have a lot to offer to children. Armstrong said.
She noted that often younger people are changing careers or their schedules will not allow them to reserve a fixed day and time every week for an entire school year.
Armstrong also said she would be happy to sell the program to employers if a volunteer mentor is unsure how to approach the boss to ask for that hour per week. And Armstrong is willing to hold public information sessions to give people more information about the program and the recruiting procedure.
Recruitment and enrolment of volunteers in the program is a two-month process. Interviews, background checks and a two-hour training session must be completed before a mentor can be matched with a child.
Children are referred to the program by their teachers. Normally, it is simply a case where a child falls between the cracks – children with low to moderate needs who are not in a crisis situation but who could use a bit of positive attention.
Maybe the child is withdrawn in school or is struggling with a stressful homelife, be it good (a new baby in the family) or bad (the death of a family member). It's a real confidence boost to a child who may be struggling to feel he or she 'counts' in someone's life. Someone other than a family member or a teacher.
Next, approval to participate in the program must be obtained from the parent or guardian. The final decision to participate comes from the child.
Armstrong emphasizes that the main objective in the program is to have fun.
Mentors who have been involved in the program have said it has been so much more fun than they thought it would be.
Male mentors, especially, wonder at first how much fun it could be to hang out with a child at school for an hour, but they have said how much the experience has opened their eyes. A lot of the comments have been heartwarming, Armstrong said.
The children who have been involved in the program have been unanimous in their enthusiasm.
They really look forward to the time spent with their mentors and say it is the highlight of their week.
The most remarkable friendship Armstrong has heard about was that of an eight-year-old boy who called to thank the organization for his big brother.
He taught me how to laugh, the boy revealed.
This type of program teaches life skills, Armstrong explained.
Research has shown that the social skills a child develops in grade three are an indicator of future success in school and later in the workforce.
Mentoring adults can give a child guidance and a mature perspective, and because the adult is a friend, not a parent, the relationship has a different dynamic.
Armstrong hopes to recruit more volunteers for the September 2005 school year and is also looking forward to launching a Teen Mentoring Program and an Aboriginal Teen Mentoring Program in the near future.
If you feel you have some time to devote to a child's life, Ann Armstrong would love to hear from you. You can call her at 250-492-6469.
The 4th Annual Golf for Kids Sake Tournament takes place in Osoyoos on May 14.
We would love to see Osoyoos embrace this local event.
It's a fun day of golf and it supports kids in the community, said Armstrong.
The event is a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Okanagan.
