Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties is the largest one-to-one mentoring program serving young people from age five through young adulthood each year. Currently we serve 60% female 40% male with a total of 440 youth served with a big brother or sister. From this 53% live with a single parent and 25% have an incarcerated parent.
Mentors are unsung heroes who inspire, guide, and empower our youth. Mentoring is a powerful tool for empowering youth and helping them realize their full potential. It provides guidance, support, and a positive role model, helping young people build confidence, develop critical life skills, and achieve their goals.
Together, we can continue to help young people in our communities reach their full potential. When we mentor, we open doors to possibilities we never knew existed.
Mentorship remains one of the most powerful tools we have to close the gap between people and possibility. Now more than ever, it remains critical that we continue expanding mentorship’s reach so that every child, no matter their circumstances, receives the village of support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.
By exposing children to positive, caring relationships beyond the adults in their families and neighborhoods, mentoring expands a young person’s sights on what they can pursue and achieve. The connection and confidence that inspires can have a ripple effect in a young person’s life, providing a tangible incentive as they pursue their dreams.
Mentorship changes lives
You don’t need to have a specific title, a degree, or any special qualifications other than being compassionate, patient, and accepting. Because just like mentoring itself, a child will never ask that you be perfect, only that you be present.
The power of mentorship lies in the moments that spark curiosity, aspiration, and inspire potential. The truth is, when you give a little time, a word of advice, a listening ear, you get much more out of it than you put in. And when that happens, we all win.
Embracing the power, we have as individuals to make a difference is key. Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to do better in school, have better connections with family and friends and are less likely to be involved in risky behaviors.
It’s imperative for us to continue to recruit mentors and volunteers of diverse backgrounds to serve ALL youth and widen our circle of reach and impact.
Now, more than ever, youth mentorship is vital. We have a waiting list for Littles to get a big mentor of 40 kids in Martin County and 279 in Palm Beach County. We are currently recruiting adult volunteers. Bigs and Littles enjoy fun outings within the community, spending 4-6 hours together 2-3 times a month. Interested in becoming a Big for a Little? Visit www.mentorbig.org to learn more about the programs that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties offer. It takes little to be big!
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Mentorship changes lives for Palm Beach and Martin County kids
Reporting by Jennifer Sardone-Shiner, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
