Be a Mentor seeks volunteers for 2016-2017 school year
Be A Mentor, a Charleston-based mentoring initiative, has opened its application period for the 2016-2017 school year and is seeking those who want to make a difference in our community. Be A Mentor works to ensure that all youth in the Lowcountry have a caring role model in their lives to empower them to reach their full potential.
Each of Be A Mentor’s partner schools has a waiting list of students for the upcoming school year who would like to be matched with a mentor. Every member of the Lowcountry community has special skills and experiences that they can pass to the next generation in order to make a difference in a child’s life. There is a need at all grade levels (K-12), so all interested parties are encouraged to reach out to Be A Mentor for more information.
Only one hour a week of mentoring can change a child’s life for the better. Children who meet regularly with a mentor show many improvements in areas such as:
• Increased positive attitude about school
• 52% less likelihood than peers to skip a day of school
• 46% less likelihood to start using illegal drugs
Locally, Be A Mentor has seen similar success through its one-on-one relationship and small group based programs. Children participating in Be A Mentor programming for the 2014-2015 school year showed a 95% improvement in social skills and 96% improvement in school behavior. Participation in the programs is also beneficial for the mentors, as 98% report an excellent experience.
Be A Mentor believes in sending its volunteers into the community feeling confident, and ready to connect with children. Beginning late June, training seminars will be offered to those interested in becoming a mentor. Be A Mentor accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the school year. On June 27, interested parties have a chance to meet the BAM staff and learn more about mentoring programs at the 7:05 p.m. Charleston RiverDogs game. Visit the Be A Mentor website for tickets if you would like to attend.
To become a mentor, or get your business involved in mentoring, fill out an application at http://www.beamentornow.org/volunteer or contact Program Officer, Megan Schwab, mschwab@beamentornow.org. Volunteers must participate in a one hour training, pass a background check, and provide two references.