The Big Give Back for In-School Mentoring 

The Big Give Back Challenge will raise funds for a very specific goal and a very special group of children. 

In September 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters will expand our In-school Mentoring Programs services to Macaulay and Craigflower Elementary Schools. These designated ‘inner-city schools’ are located in the Esquimalt community of Greater Victoria.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has set a goal of raising $35,000 in new capital to provide In-School Mentoring services to children  - preventative services that will have an immediate and long-lasting positive impact for the children and their families.

The children and families in the neighbourhoods surrounding Esquimalt and Craigflower Elementary Schools are diverse, but they face some common obstacles. One in four adults in these neighbourhoods did not complete high school. More than 80% of the children live in poverty, approximately 25% of the children have moved at least once in the last year, and nearly 30% of the children have experienced or witnessed violence in their homes or communities. A large number of the children are isolated from their extended families or have few positive or consistent role models in their lives. 100% of the identified children need the support of a trained role model and mentor who can help build confidence and self-esteem, teach skills, and provide dedicated one-to-one time to that child.

Research[1] indicates that children and youth in mentoring programs are more resilient to negative life-style choices. When compared to children at-risk without an adult mentor:   

§Little Brothers and Little Sisters were 46% less likely than controls to initiate  drug use during the study period.

§ For every 100 youth in this age group who start to use drugs, only 54 similar youth who have a Big Brother or Big Sister will start using drugs.

§Little Brothers and Little Sisters were 27% less likely than controls to initiate alcohol use during the study period.

§Little Brothers and Little Sisters were almost one-third less likely than controls to hit someone.

And, long-term studies show that nearly 80% of children from social assistance backgrounds no longer rely on this form of assistance as adults.

Learn more...