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.
