While becoming a mentor can have a great impact on a child’s life, it is also a life-changing experience for the volunteers. Through a mentoring relationship, volunteers and mentees create life-long friendships that have a positive impact on both people.
January is National Mentoring Month, and Building Impact is working with several partners to help you find a mentoring program in your community that is convenient for you.
Boston Area
Big Sister of Greater Boston aims to nurture girls’ innate strengths and cultivate the confidence, competence, and caring they need to make their dreams a reality. The organization offers both One-to-One and Group Mentoring programs for mentors. Programs are designed to be flexible so that interested people can volunteer near their home or workplace.
Meanwhile, Big Brother Big Sister of Mass Bay are focusing on school-based mentoring programs. While it may sound obvious, often the best place to help a child realize their potential is at school. Some days Littles and Bigs might do some homework, eat or read together, but they also discuss sports, play games, draw or go to the gym.
North of Boston
Right now, there are several mentoring programs in the Lawrence area that are in great need of new mentors. Mass Mentoring Program can help you find a program that is in your community and fits your schedule. They also provide plenty of supportive resources and fun activities that mentors can do with their mentees.
West of Boston
The Mazie Mentoring Program pairs disadvantaged Framingham High School sophomores with committed mentors from the community. Mentors commit to spending at least eight hours each month of face-to-face time with their mentee and to stay in touch via phone or email the rest of the month. As well as spending fun time together, pairs also participate in a goal program that teaches the mentees how to set and achieve goals and experience success.
