Junior Senior Buddy Program

Description

Mentors are responsible, safe, caring adults who enjoy interacting with youth, and who are able to meet with their mentee weekly for at least a year.

As one mentor described his role, "I am not a parent. I am not a teacher. I am not a friend. As a mentor I can focus all of my attention on my mentee [when we're together] and although I'm concerned about how he is doing in school, my primary concern is his general well being. I'm concerned about how he feels about himself and his place in the world. I'm concerned about his values such as integrity and kindness and making choices that are good for him as well as others. I'm also unconditionally there for him even if I don't agree with or support some of his decisions and actions. It is challenging, but at the same time fun and incredibly rewarding. Perhaps I can pass along some wisdom from my adult years on this planet - but let me not forget to mention the wisdom this child passes on to me too."