Refugee Mentor

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Just spending time with a youth can make a world of difference! Here are some youth currently looking for a male mentor. Families are also great to get involved with the youth.

A 17-year-old from Honduras is in need of a mentor. He traveled to the United States to flee gang violence. When he was sixteen years old he was robbed, beat, and threatened to be killed by members of a gang because he refused to join. He is a very polite and respectful young man who is engaging and willing to try new things. He reports wanting to join an American football team in the fall and wanting to join the Army when he is 18 years old. He likes to exercise and is mindful of his health.

A 13-year-old from Bhutan attends Excel Charter Academy and is very focused on school. He’s very active he enjoys playing outside and doing most physical activities. He is friendly and outgoing the majority of the time. He and his older sisters were left in the refugee camp in Nepal by their mom. She did not return and they were classified as unaccompanied refugee minors and resettled to Grand Rapids, MI. The youth has a very active imagination and is constantly playing dress up and imaginary games. He loves superheroes and police officers/army stuff.

Someone willing to mentor to guys from the same foster home? They are both 17 from Guatemala and live in a foster home in Kentwood. One is shy, but friendly and often keeps to himself to read and study. He’s in 9 th grade at Kellogsville High School. He worked on a farm to help provide for his family and came here to escape poverty and neglect. He enjoys cooking (carne asada), soccer, music/singing (Mana) and prayer. The other is in 11th grade and very interested in pursuing the sciences (research, pharmaceuticals, aerospace). He is outgoing, smiles often, and presents as thankful and appreciative. In Guatemala he suffered verbal and physical abuse from his stepfather. He enjoys running, reading, studying, science, learning French. The case manager stated, "Marco is pretty outgoing and brave. He wants to learn as much as he can and accomplish as much as he can and 'make something’ of his life before he settles down and has a family."

Mentor requirements are to spend 4 hours a month for a 12 month period.