simply making a difference

Many of us want to make a difference in our community, but are not sure about committing to leadership roles in town politics, or promising evening times to attend organizational meetings. We just want to dig in and help.

One way for community members to do just that is to consider becoming a mentor for a student who would like to meet with greater success in his or her life. By committing to a mere hour per week, a mentor and student can establish a trusting relationship through mutually planned activities for a lunch/recess period each Tuesday at school. The time together does not impact the learning time, but it definitely adds value to the school experience.

Mentors and mentees often share in a good story while the student eats, and then move on to an activity of choice. Activities might include making a craft, playing a game, talking about a concern, researching a topic, building a model or puzzle, or going outdoors. Though the forty-five minute visits seem brief, the regularity of the visits builds a sense of support and trust that translates to greater confidence for the mentees. The mentors enjoy being valued as a trusted friend.

Getting started

The first mentors to get on board attended a one-hour training on October 20 at the school. Trish, from the Mentor Connector in Rutland, gave volunteers a Mentor Manual and talked through the expectations so that we all could start on the same page. The premise is simple, but there are some items of protocol that need to be shared before starting. The meeting also sets the stage for a supportive network for mentors as they embark on this new experience.

Three "matches" are off and running!