Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver are looking for volunteers
The program pairs volunteers and youth who share common interests to build connections and a sense of community
Big Brothers is looking for volunteers to mentor youth in Greater Vancouver. (Submitted)
The Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) is looking for volunteers to help youth ages seven to 17 overcome the sense of loneliness and loss of connection in the post-pandemic world. The program welcomes all ages who are 18 years or older as mentors.
The mentoring programs provide a chance for both the mentors and mentees to learn something new from each other. It incorporates different activities where a volunteer can spend a few hours with youth engaging in the activities of their choice. The program provides supportive one-to-one mentoring relationships to children and youth in local communities.
“This could [be] going out and doing something fun together — playing sports, arts and crafts, video games. Our program tries to match mentees and mentors with similar passions or personalities,” says Mandy Wong, manager, development and marketing at BBGV.
There are six different mentoring programs offered, including in-school mentoring, healthy lifestyle practice mentoring, math mentoring and mentoring specific to Indigenous cultures.
She says young people in the programs have gained or improved their self confidence and learn from their mentors, and the program also bridges the gap of community lost due to pandemic lockdowns and restrictions.
“During the pandemic we have an influx of families asking for a mentor for their child or youth in their family. Everyone has lost the sense of doing something with somebody,” Wong says.
A lot of the programs had to take place virtually during the pandemic, which made it difficult for youth to connect with their mentors.
“Right now, we’re just trying to keep up, a lot of families are applying, and we definitely need more volunteers now more than ever before to serve these families,” she says. “The important thing is the mentorship element is [to] spend time with a young person, and then just build a friendship.”
The mentorship is at least a one-year commitment with weekly meetings between two to four hours at a time.
“[There’s] a sense of connection that the programs are able to provide. These youth are saying they felt lonely or lost a sense of connection [and] we’re hoping, with our program, we’re able to provide that to them,” Wong says.
“There’s not necessarily a family member or someone that [can] do things with them,” she adds. “We need more volunteers to step up to serve these young people that are telling us they could use another mentor in their lives.”
The Big Brother’s program is offered in Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby and New Westminster.
“I think the need to serve the community is needed more than ever.”
