Q. Who are the children that apply to your program?
A. Little Sisters and Brothers are children who, through the encouragement and a special one-to-one friendship with a caring teen, enhance their sense of belonging, self-worth, resiliency and capacity to make healthy, well-informed decisions. The children are between the ages of 7 and 10 years old who attend a local elementary school.
Q. Is there an age requirement to become a Teen Mentor?
A. Volunteers are between 15 and 18 years old.
Q. What is the time commitment for volunteering as a Teen Mentor?
A. Teen Mentors spend one hour a week with their Little Brother or Sister, on school property. The commitment is until the end of June, with the option of continuing in the program in the following school year.
Q. What if I will be away?
A. We know that life is busy outside of being a volunteer with us and that from time to time you may miss some time with your match due to vacation, illness, etc. You can help ease that time by being open and clear about expected time away and return times, when you are talking with your Little and your Mentoring Coordinator.
Q. How do you match "Teen Mentors" with "Littles"?
A. We take the time to get to know our volunteers and the kids in our program. We then carefully match Teens with Littles based on a number of factors, including interests, personality, experience, age of child, etc.
Q. Will the staff at BBBS stay involved after the match is made?
A. Yes. It is mandatory to stay involved with the agency. This is the responsibility of all parties, including the Teen Mentor, Little, and Parent/Guardian.
Q. Who should be a Teen Mentor?
A. Teen Mentors are caring teens who wish to provide encouragement and friendship to a child. They are people who are able to commit to spending one hour a week with a child from Autumn until June. Teens who would like extra support for their volunteering as a Teen Mentor can find this through our partnership with Volunteer Victoria's Youth Volunteer Connections Program.
Q. Does the Teen Mentoring Program cost anything?
A. No, there are no fees associated with any of our programs. The focus of the program should be on quality time being spent together, rather than exciting activities that cost a lot of money.
Q. What are the benefits that a chidd receives from being matched with a Teen Mentor?
A: Studies show that mentoring relationships are proven to help girls and boys to:
· Develop increased confidence, self-esteem and hope for the future;
· Enhance their goals and expectations;
· Improve academic performance;
· Stay in school and go on to further their education;
· Improve their communication and social skills;
· Improve their interaction with peers;
· Avoid the use of illegal drugs and alcohol;
· Avoid the use of physical violence.
Q. What are the benefits a teen receives from becoming a Teen Mentor?
· Resume building for future employment.
· Earn high school graduation hours.
· Gain experience for working with children in education, recreation or human service work.
· Building and enhancing leadership skills, interpersonal and teamwork skills.
· Satisfaction of contributing to the community and making a BIG difference in the life of a child.
Q. Is there any training involved?
A. Yes. Once you have applied to our program, you will be invited to a training session. Topics such as abuse prevention, how to build self-esteem, volunteer roles and responsibilities, and asset development will be covered. Although a great deal of information is covered at this workshop, please recognize that this is just a starting point in your learning as a Teen Mentor.
Q. How will I know what to do with my Little?
A. We make an effort to match Teen Mentors with Littles who have similar interests. Teen Mentors and Littles meet on school property and have access to some school facilities, as well as activities, games and supplies. BBBS staff provides ongoing support to the Teens and Littles and can help with activities and plans.