By sharing just one hour a week, you can
Make a difference in the life of a child
The FLYERS Mentoring Program's mission is to develop supportive, ongoing one-on-one relationships between mentors and students to facilitate academic, emotional and physical growth for at-risk youth in Elmira, N.Y.
The idea is simple but powerful. Volunteers give up an hour a week to build a friendship with a boy or girl who can benefit from having another stable relationship with an adult. Mentors and mentees meet at school during the school day to talk, play, read or just hang out. FLYERS Mentors aren't meant to be tutors, foster parents or saviors. They are just grown-ups who can share their time and interests with a child.
What does the student gain? By forming a lasting friendship with an adult at their school, the student starts to feel connected: connected to their mentor, connected to their school, and ultimately, connected to their communities. The program has completed its first year, and already students are showing better grades, better attendance, better attitudes about school and fewer discipline referrals.
But those are just the immediate gains. Who knows what may develop from such a friendship? Sharing information about your career, your family life and your experiences might just be the inspiration a student needs to develop their own hopes and dreams. Anyone can be a role model to a child.