Support by the Rotorua Trust has helped the establishment of a Big Brothers, Big Sisters programme to mentoryoung peopleseen as lacking positive role models.
Darryl Parker, the recently appointed coordinator for the programme in Rotorua, was previously working in the Police youth section in Rotorua.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the world’s largest mentoring service, has been around for 100 years internationally and in New Zealand for the past 15 years. A steering group setup in Rotorua a couple of years ago has garnered support from a range of local agencies.
Darryl was initially involved in the steering group, which he describes as being made up of fantastic community people. “Without them, the programme would not be successful in Rotorua.
The programme involves children from the ages of seven to18 years, although the children will come into the programme from seven to12 years of age. Volunteer mentors who go through a thorough process of vetting and screening are currently being prepared so they can be matched up with those children already coming into the programme.
“The programme aims to provide a beneficial experience for children who are seen as needing this service,” says Darryl. They may have never had positive role models or a close relationship with a parent or older sibling, so Big Brothers, Big Sisters brings them the benefits a relationship like this can have for children.
Close to 40 enquiriesabout the service had been made by mid-November for people to become mentors, and Darryl has had about 12 applications back after an initial meeting.
“For us, that’s a fantastic result and they all seem like great people and very suitable.”
Most of the early applicants have been women but Darryl says men mentors are needed and are equally as valid as women in this role, even though they sometimes feel they are not sufficiently skilled. Nevertheless, he says he is very grateful for the large number of women applying as a lot of girls also need mentoring.
“It is just people offering who they are – they aren’t expected to be counsellors but totake part in activities together and over a period of time build a relationship of trust.”
The programme lines up the mentor’s activities with those of the children who have similar interests. The match is made only where both parties are happy and agree to the match.
It is hoped to introduce mentoring into Rotorua schools in the future, Darryl says, in order to offer mentoring to children whose circumstances may mean their homes and families are difficult to access.
Darryl Parker
Coordinator Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rotorua
Ph. 64 7 3499414
Cell. 0273063381
- darryl.parker@bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz
Webpage. www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz