Most Canadians hear about youth issues in the news and think, “That’s not fair. How can I help?”. Many caring Canadians like you want to be part of the solution, and yet are often discouraged by the complexity of the problems. Families across Canada are living with complex challenges stemming from systemic injustice and structural inequality. This can make you pause and doubt that one person alone can make any significant impact. The facts show that in as little as one hour a week, you can.
Some families are living with complex challenges stemming from systemic injustice and structural inequality. When you volunteer to be a Mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, you can have significant and profound impact on the life of a child facing adversities. And you will have the support of a team of experts in our network.
Big Brothers Big Sisters recruits and trains adult volunteers like you to build and maintain supportive relationships with children in your community. Through committed relationships, young people are provided with a foundation to thrive. Through mentoring relationships, Mentors express care and challenge growth, igniting each Mentee’s unique potential.
DID YOU KNOW?
Research suggests that young people are most likely to flourish when they are embedded in a web of relationships with supportive, caring adults. This is the essence of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs; providing the relationships that young people need to succeed. As a Mentor, you can help a young person discover who they are, develop and practice skills to shape their own lives and learn how to engage with and understand the world around them.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, one adult like you can make a BIG difference and your volunteer hours will be well used. Consider becoming a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor in your community today and let’s work together to solve society’s challenges, one child at a time.
Globally renowned youth development researchers have affirmed:
“After decades of forming hypotheses, conducting surveys, crafting and rewriting definitions, analyzing data, and writing journal articles, Search Institute researchers and practitioners have arrived at a surprisingly simple conclusion: nothing—nothing—has more impact in the life of a child than positive relationships.”
– Peter L. Benson
Former Search Institute President and CEO (2010)
