January is National Mentoring Month
A mentor is a positive role model and a guide. Mentors are matched with another person to offer them companionship, advice, help to problem solve, listen carefully and perhaps serve as an advocate, and open doors to pursue life goals. Many mentors say their greatest reward is the knowledge they’ve helped someone else become smarter, stronger and more independent.
Many mentoring programs train volunteers to help children academically. Experience Corps is a nationally-acclaimed program for elementary children; ACHIEVE, in Amphitheater School district, mentors schoolchildren of all ages. Wakefield Middle School, Arizona’s Children Association, Pima Prevention Partnership and many other agencies need academic mentors.
Some programs focus on relationships or helping youth at risk. Jewish Family and Children’s Services needs mentors to work with pregnant teens or survivors of sexual abuse. Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a mentor with a child for outings or “together” time. Community Justice Board seeks methods to mentor youth with juvenile offenses. Aviva Children’s Services sponsors mentors for a child or teen under the care of Child Protective Services. At the House of Neighborly Service volunteers help with reading and homework, give companionship to seniors, and mentor at-risk youth, ages 6 – 12.
Mentoring can be adult-to-adult. SCORE and Microbusiness Advancement Center pair experienced business people with new and existing entrepreneurs. Mentors help prisoners who are preparing to re-enter community life. NAMISA’s Buddy program pairs people in recovery from mental illness. Other mentors coach refugees and help them adjust to life in the United States.
Anybody can be a mentor. There’s so much choice, and so much need.
How do I find a mentoring position? Click back once to the Welcome page, and type the word “mentor” in the Keyword Search box. You can limit the search by typing in the zip code of the area in which you’d like to mentor. To refine the search further, click on the “Refine Search” in parentheses, and you can choose the age range you’d like to mentor, or special issues in your mentoring. If you need help, please call the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona at 881-3300. We’ll help you find the ideal mentoring position.
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