What is community-based mentoring?
Some children are in need of a caring friend to help, but may not have issues that rise to the level of seriousness that they require placement in a residential setting like Mercy Home. Appropriately, while they particpate in our Friends First mentoring program, they live at home with their own families. They may come from economically-struggling single-parent households or from neighborhoods with limited recreational and learning opportunities. Mentors help children like these gain self-confidence and direction, and resist negative peer pressure. They give of their time and take these young people to places like ball games, museums, parks and more. They expand young people’s horizons through shared activities. Many of these young people may never have had ventured outside of their own neighborhood prior to their involvement with Friends First. They benefit just by experiencing new things, seeing new parts of the city, and having a friend to lend an ear and lead by example. • 91 matche
