Become a Volunteer Mentor in Toronto

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About Youth Assisting Youth

Location:

5734 Yonge Street, suite 401, Toronto, ON M2M 4E7, CA

Mission Statement

Mission Statement: Youth Assisting Youth is a voluntary community-based mentoring organization that is committed to promoting the healthy growth and development of young people, strengthening families and responding to the changing needs of the community. Guiding Principles: - Mentoring is an effective tool that allows all individuals involved to develop their potential; - Youth have the power and potential to make valuable contributions in their communities; - Mentoring is an effective tool that allows all individuals involved to develop their potential; - To prevent the development of severe difficulties in children and youth; - To develop leadership skills in children and youth; - To serve a diverse ethno-cultural community; - To advocate for changes that will improve conditions affecting young people, their families and their community; - To educate the community at large about the conditions affecting young people.

Description

YOUTH ASSISTING YOUTH (YAY) is a non-profit charitable organization that provides a community-based peer mentoring program (youth mentoring youth) to help youth overcome barriers and succeed. YAY matches children & youth ages 6-15 with trained Youth Volunteer Mentors ages 16-29. Mentors spend 3 hours per week with their mentee providing consistent guidance, specialized support and a positive role model. Mentees benefit from increased confidence, skills and academic performance, as well as reductions in anxiety, depression and isolation. Mentors benefit from increased critical thinking skills, job skills, leadership abilities and empathy.

Since 1976, YAY has matched more than 5,000 at-risk youth with a mentor, and 98% of those youth have stayed in school and out of the juvenile justice system. We support youth from low-income, single-parent and newcomer families, as well as youth with mental health issues and learning disabilities. Our One-to-One Peer Mentoring Program directly address the issues of youth crime, academic failure, mental health, delinquency, substance abuse, bullying and more, by offering youth consistent support during their pivotal adolescent years.

In addition to our One-to-One program, we also provide our Group Mentoring Program, including our school-based Girls Empowerment Program and Boys Empowerment Program. The Group program also includes ongoing activities for our "mentor matches", as well as the youth on our waiting list.