VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2015 – There has never been a greater need for responsible and civic-minded people to come forward and volunteer their time with children in our communities. Spending a few hours a week mentoring a child brings many personal rewards, as well as a hugely positive contribution to a child’s life. Unfortunately there are hundreds of children across the Lower Mainland who are still waiting for a mentor. Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver has launched a campaign to help reduce that wait time.
Mentoring is central to anyone’s professional and personal success and it’s vital that boys and girls have strong role models at a young age. For children who may not have older siblings or close relatives in their lives to turn to for advice, it can be much harder for them to reach their full potential, unlike children who do have an immediate support network.
A recent study undertaken by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found that boys with mentors are less likely to succumb to peer pressure or express negative behaviors like fighting and bullying. Children with mentors are more likely to perform better academically and have higher self-esteem.
“Trying new activities and going on different adventures with *Chris each week is a lot of fun. I feel good knowing he looks up to me and sees me as a positive figure in his life,” shares Matthew Duckworth, a new mentor in the Big Brothers program.
In an effort to provide much needed mentors for more children, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver has launched a campaign to find 30 volunteers to become mentors in 30 days throughout the month of May. Waitlists of children seeking mentors continue to grow, with some waiting up to two years for a mentor. The longer they wait, the more at-risk these children may become.
In order to meet their 30-day goal, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver needs men and women who are looking for a meaningful and fun volunteer opportunity to come forward. All those who sign up during the month of May will be entered to win movie or bookstore gift cards to enjoy with their Little Buddy. Applications can be submitted online at bigbrothersvancouver.com/volunteer.
*Please note that for the safety of children in programs at Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, their names are changed to protect their privacy.
Contact
Kristie Yung, Marketing and Communications Manager (Acting)
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
T: 604.876.2447 x247
bigbrothersvancouver.com