Potential. It exists in every kid. Yet many children and youth struggle with societal barriers and face adversities such as poverty, family instability, and identity-based discrimination. These adversities can negatively impact a young person’s future. That’s why ERA was delighted to provide Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) with a laptop to be used for homework during their LEAP tutor/mentor program. It is our pleasure to support organizations that positively shape the lives of our most precious resource. If you are looking to contribute to the success of our youth, let ERA refurbish your unwanted computers and book your pick up today.
Computers don’t have to be all work and no play! BBBS had an Oculus Rift VR machine donated to their activity centre for their kids and mentors to use, but they did not have a machine that met the basic requirements to use it. Now that they have a laptop from ERA, the kids are so excited to be able to experience VR!
Mentoring relationships change young people’s lives. With training and professional support, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors form strong positive relationships with their mentees that express care, challenge growth, share power, and expand possibilities.
BBBS creates individual and group mentoring relationships amongst adults and youth.
Mentorship is a two-way, learning, and development partnership where the young person’s needs are placed at the centre. Mentees and mentors alike benefit from these professionally supported relationships. When you’re there for a young person as they grow up, you learn just as much as they do.
Because young people’s brains are still developing, mentoring can support that process through back-and-forth interaction like the volley in a good game of ping-pong. Mentoring is an important way to give youth experience with these essential back-and-forth relationships, developing them into healthy young people better able to deal with and overcome life’s adversities.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has a comprehensive infrastructure for supporting mentorship partnerships: detailed legal screening of mentors to ensure child safety; a broad network of professional staff supporting mentors and volunteers; systems for selecting, approving and supporting volunteers; referring families to agencies that provide other services if required for the mentee and their family.
Visit their website and find out how you can get involved.
