Youth Mentoring Programs: Building Youth Mentoring Programs
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WHAT IS A MENTORING PROGRAM?
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WHY SHOULD YOU SET UP A MENTOR OR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM?
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HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHETHER TO SET UP A MENTOR PROGRAM?
One-on-one instruction, or mentoring, is one of the oldest forms of teaching. Our parents and grandparents are our earliest mentors; later, we may be mentored by--or act as mentors to--brothers, sisters, and friends.
Mentor programs work because they provide encouragement and guidance to each adolescent or child that participates. This introductory section offers a general discussion on the rationale behind such programs and outlines the advantages they provide. Reflection questions will help you decide if you want to begin a mentoring program, and an overview of the rest of the sections in the chapter is given.
WHAT IS A MENTORING PROGRAM?
Mentor or partnership programs connect people who have specific skills and knowledge (mentors) with individuals (protégés) who need or want the same skills and advantages to move up in work, skill level, or school performance. Participants in mentor programs, both young and old, share their values and personal goals in a mutually respectful, supportive way which leads to a more enriched life for both. A successful mentor program helps break down barriers and creates opportunities for success.
WHY SHOULD YOU SET UP A MENTOR OR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM?
There are many benefits of such programs for both the mentor and the protégés:
- Among youth in mentoring programs, there have been recorded increases in:
- Self-esteem
- Regard for and comfort with members of other races
- Ability to maintain positive relationships with other adults
- Decision-making ability in the career-choice process
- Mentoring programs may noticeably increase school attendance among mentees
- Roles of non-familial adults in the lives of at-risk children have been shown to be beneficial in increasing resiliency and success
- In programs that specialize in youth mentoring, people from outside a youth's everyday world cooperate to build positive assets for the youth, giving the community a stake in her or his future
- Mentor programs open new opportunities and understanding for mentors and protégés
- Mentor programs offer a way to pass valuable skills and knowledge from person to person
- Passing opportunities along from one person to another helps ensure that those living in a community have the ability to maintain and improve it
- Mentors and role models have a chance to create a new relationship and enjoy successfully teaching someone something new
GOOD REASONS FOR STARTING A MENTOR PROGRAM
- Mentoring builds self-esteem
- The knowledge and alternatives gained through a partnership program allow teens and adults to explore different career possibilities not often available in a classroom or work setting
- Mentor programs break down stereotypes surrounding certain professions and populations. Mentor relationships promote awareness of a community's diversity
- Partnerships build teamwork, whether learning occurs in school or on the job.
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