MENTORS

A mentor is a guide, a friend, a listener and a role model. Unpaid and giving of their time willingly, a mentor is a constant and regular significant person in the life of a young person.

The Primary Role of a Mentor is to:

• Establish a positive, personal relationship with a young person.
  • Establish mutual trust and respect.
  • Maintain regular interaction and consistent support.
  • Have fun and enjoy the experience.
• Help a young person to develop or begin to develop life skills.
  • Identify and recognise the young person’s strengths.
  • Work with your young person to accomplish specific goals such as improved grades, time management, school attendance, self-esteem, and confidence.
  • Instil the framework for developing broader life-management skills (i.e., decision-making, goal setting, conflict resolution, money management, etc.)
• Assist a young person in obtaining additional resources.
  • Provide awareness of community, educational, and economic resources available to young people and how to access these resources.
  • Act as a guide, advocate, "coach" and role model.
  • Avoid acting as a professional case manager. View the role of mentor as a friend rather than a counsellor.
  • Increase the young person's ability to interact with people from various backgrounds (cultural, racial, socio-economic, etc.).
  • Respect and explore differences among people from various backgrounds
• Introduce the young person to different environments, for example the workplace, restaurants, church.
  • Discuss differences in behaviour, attitude, and style of dress.

Keep in mind that each mentor-young person match is unique and will result in unique experiences.