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Make 2012 positive for you and others

YWCA NSW recruiting volunteers for In School Mentoring NOW!

 

  • Are you looking for something meaningful to do in 2012?
  • Could you spare 1-2 hours a week during the school day?
  • Do you have what it takes to be a positive role model to children who are looking for a mentor?

 

YWCA NSW is urgently seeking adult volunteer role models for its In School Mentoring (ISM) programs in the Sydney metro and Macarthur regions of NSW.

 

Volunteers will receive full training from our facilitator and there’s no need for any special skills, just the ability to listen and encourage!

In School Mentoring, part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters™ suite of programs, provides positive adult volunteers to small or full class groups of year 5 and 6 students in a supervised setting over the course of the school year.

 

Students receive particular support in the areas of literacy and numeracy skills, self esteem, skills, and leadership, helping to improve their overall school performance, behaviours and feelings of connectedness to their community.

 

Our ISM Coordinators see the change in the children as they build relationships with their mentors over the course of a school year. Their confidence is boosted, they are less likely to play truant, they have a regular connection to someone who they can learn positive behaviours from so their behaviour improves and their general attitude is more positive.

 

Sue is a mentor at one of our inner Sydney ISM programs and says: “I have been a mentor at Plunkett Street for three years now. One hour a week may seem a very short time to spend with someone, however it is amazing how much difference that one hour can make in a young person's life. It may be the friendly hello when you walk into the playground, the laughs and giggles as you enjoy games together, the amazement as you cook or make something they have never seen or done before, or even the sense of achievement as they present a joint project or challenge activity to the group.

 

“Plunkett Street is an amazing little school so close to the centre of the city. You really do feel like part of the family of the school, as not only do you get to work with your individual mentee, but you become a familiar face to everyone in the group.  I would recommend the ISM program to anyone.”

 

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a volunteer, register your interest here http://www.ywcansw.com.au/volunteering.php and we’ll be in touch.

 

As well as mentors, we are currently seeking funding for our mentoring programs. If you would like further information on how you or your organisation can help provide more vulnerable children with a  positive influence, contact Costa Demos on costad@ywcansw.com.au or 02 9285 6279.