If you’ve been looking to get more active, make a difference, and get in touch with your inner child, why not consider becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister?
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Fraser Valley is recruiting adult mentors for the community-based and in-school mentoring programs. There are over a dozen Mission children ranging in age from 7-14 waiting to find their Big Brother or Big Sister, and some have been waiting more than one year.
The community-based program matches a volunteer with a child with similar interests, and allows them to do things of mutual interest in and around the community once per week for two to four hours. The requested minimum commitment is one year, but many mentoring relationships last longer than that.
For those who can only spare one hour per week during the weekday, consider the In-School Mentoring Program that matches volunteers with a child they visit at the child’s elementary school. Their role is not to tutor or help with schoolwork, but to be a friend. This involves playing sports outside, building a gingerbread house, or just chatting about life. High school students are also encouraged to apply to the Teen Mentoring program.
Interested volunteers will fill out an application form and list three references, complete a criminal record check and a driver’s abstract, plus attend an interview with a mentoring coordinator. If the volunteer is approved, they will attend a mandatory pre-match safety training session, and then be matched with a waiting child.
For more information, phone Cassie or Tamara at 604-820-3334 or send an email to cassie.silva@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.