What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a structured relationship between an adult and a young person aimed at developing the personal qualities and strengths of the youth.
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a caring adult friend who devotes time to a young person. Mentors can fill many roles. Yet all mentors have one thing in common: they care about helping young people achieve their potential and discover their strengths.
Mentors are not meant to replace the role of a parent, guardian or teacher. A mentor is not a disciplinarian or decision-maker for a child. Instead, a mentor offers positive role modeling and reinforcement and encourages exploration of future possibilities. A mentor is part of a team of caring adults.
A mentor’s main purpose is to help a young person define and achieve goals that will vary depending on the young person’s age. Most youth mentoring involves young people 10 to 18 years of age. Since the expectations of each child will vary, it is the mentor’s job to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that matches the mentor’s skills and interests with the young person’s needs.
By sharing fun activities and exposing a youth to new experiences, a mentor encourages positive choices, promotes high self-esteem, supports academic achievement and introduces the child to new ideas.
What are the different types of mentoring?
One-on-one mentoring:
Traditional mentoring consisting of one adult to one young person. Typically, meetings should occur regularly at least four hours per month for at least one year, or nine months in a school-based program.
Group mentoring:
One adult commits to meet regularly with up to four young people in an interactive session which usually encourages personal sharing. Activities may be determined by the sponsoring program or be left up to the group mentor.
Team mentoring:
Several adults working with small groups of young people, in which the adult to youth ratio is not greater than 1:4.
Where does mentoring occur?
Community-based mentoring programs:
Meetings take place at the mentor and mentee’s discretion. This structure allows the mentor and mentee to create their own activities anytime, anywhere (i.e. flying kites at the park, going to a museum, etc.).
- These programs offer the most flexibility.
Site-based mentoring programs:
Meetings take place at a given location, during or after school or on weekends. These include programs at a school or other community center site.
- These programs allow for onsite support and guidance from other staff.
What are the different goals of mentoring?
Personal growth and development:
Mentor and mentee connect through activities of mutual interest such as visits to cultural sites, trips to movies or shows, sports or other activities.
Education:
Mentor and mentee work on school-related activities ranging from homework, literacy-building, SAT preparation and college and financial aid applications or alternatives to college. Usually occurring at the site of the host organization, these programs tend to follow the school year.
Civics:
Community-service-oriented activities aimed at developing a sense of responsibility for one’s community as well as compassion and pride.
Recreation (sport or other):
Participation in groups and teams creates an atmosphere for learning social skills such as cooperation, communication, and leadership.
Career development:
Mentors and mentees research and explore different career paths and professions. Gaining experience and networking are important aspects of this method.
Spiritual growth and development:
Mentor and mentee may discuss the significance of faith in their lives, attend religious services, or study topics of interest together. Faith may also be a component of another activity such as a civic or recreation program.
Grizzlies Foundation will find best fit for a prospective mentor. Opportunities exist to fit any schedule. For more information, contact (901) 205-TEAM or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).