What many of us look for in a volunteer opportunity is a chance to really make a difference in the community. While some prefer to make monetary donations, others prefer to donate time. With the New Year having just rolled by, it seems that we are more eager than ever to get involved. Steve Fooks, trainer at Freedom 55 Financial, explains why he believes that mentoring is a great way to make a difference in the life of a child.
“One-to-one involvement is very important for kids. With larger class sizes in schools these days, the quiet kids get lost in the shuffle and they don’t get the attention that they need,” says Steve. Steve is a strong believer in mentoring, which is why he decided to become an In-School Mentor with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
Big Brothers’ In-school Mentoring Program is a one-to-one friendship-based program for boys and girls in grades one to six. A child, or Little Buddy, and his/her mentor, or Big Buddy, meet for one hour a week at the child's school to play games or sports, do arts and crafts or just hang out on the playground.
Steve has been matched with is Little Buddy Julian since April of 2009 when Julian was seven years old. Steve says that when they first met, Julian was the quietest guy in the world who often talked to his shoes.
“Julian comes from a very large family. There’s not always the opportunity for Julian to get the attention he needs at home and when we first started spending time together, I could tell he was excited to see me each week. He was starving for attention,” says Steve. Julian has opened up to Steve since they started spending time together and teachers have reported that Julian has more confidence and is partaking in discussions now.
What is unique about one-to-one mentoring is that in this program friendship is key. According to Steve, having a positive role model is important but it’s even more important to have adults in your life that spend time with you because they want to, not because they have to. And Steve benefits from the experience as well.
“It’s something I look forward to each week. It’s very rewarding being able to say that this is what I do on Fridays. Julian has drawn me pictures and I keep them in my office. Spending time with him is certainly a nice break from work,” says Steve. The two are able to goof around and Steve says he loves it when Julian tells him how much he likes it when Steve comes to the school to spend time with him.
There are a number of ways to get involved in the community. Becoming an In-School Mentor one way to have a BIG impact on a child’s life and Steve encourages everyone to give it a try.
“If you doubt whether you would be a good role model, the fact that you would even give some thought to it and consider it makes you a good role model. If you’re at the point of thinking about giving back to others, it says a lot in itself. I’m a big advocate of Big Brothers and they have my whole hearted seal of approval. What is an hour a week?” says Steve.
For more information about how you can become an In-School Mentor, visit www.bigbrothersvancouver.com or call 604.876.2447 x236.
