Despite occasional challenges, the program is very positive for the youths who participate and give gives them new achievements to strive for. Not only does it help the junior partner, but mentors benefit as well. She just came over and changed all of that for me. You get to see this child change over the year. It s great to see my partner so happy.
Volunteers usually commit to spending three hours a week with their junior partner.
They are also given certain goals, which they must complete in their time together. You also have a community service goal, education goal and a new time goal. The new time goal is doing something neither one of you has done before, like going to a hockey game or a play you have never seen. Besides spending three hours a week with a junior partner, mentors also have to go through screening and training. Smalling recommended the experience to anyone who wants to work with children.