Youth Mentor Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Youth Mentor Program matches UC Berkeley students with Berkeley and Oakland middle school students in one-on-one relationships for an academic year. Through these relationships, as well as recreational and group activities, mentors provide friendship, support, and guidance to local youth. Mentors and their mentees meet on their own for approximately 2-3 hours per week and participate in activities that they both enjoy. There are also monthly group activities to bring all participants together.

• Mentors are male and female UC Berkeley students from diverse backgrounds. The YWCA interviews and screens each applicant to make appropriate matches. Mentors are matched with students of the same gender, expect for special cases.
• Mentees are middle school students from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkeley and Claremont Middle School in Oakland who will enjoy and benefit from an individual relationship with a college student. The program is designed for students with various needs and backgrounds, so we encourage any students from these schools to apply. Mentees elect to fill out applications and are not assigned to the program by parents or guidance counselors. Parents interested in having their child participate in the program should contact the counselor or after school program coordinator at their child?s middle school.

The outcome of participation in the program varies. In general, mentors make a big difference in younger people?s lives. Mentors can encourage their mentee?s self-confidence and self-esteem. They can also help them plan for the future and expose them to higher education opportunities. Mentors are not tutors, but the pairs can sometimes decide to do schoolwork together. Mentors also benefit from their mentees. They learn how to be reliable and conscientious of others, and are exposed to other cultures and lifestyles.

The program is not intended to make every participant a college-bound student. Rather, we aim to provide adolescents with someone who can offer friendship and support with day-to-day issues as well as in planning for the future. We do, however, hope to make college less intimidating, and to present it as one option among many.

What Participants are Saying about the Program

"It's great to get away from the college world for a while and just play a game of basketball with my new friend." - UC Berkeley student

Mentor Application Process

• Complete the Mentor Application.
• After your application has been received, you will be contacted so that we can set-up an interview.
• At your interview, we will have the chance to get to know you better and answer any questions that you may have about the Program.
• After your interview, you will attend a mentor training session (lasting approximately one and a half hours.)
• Please feel free to contact the YWCA at any time if you have any questions about the program or the status of your application.

Mentor Responsibilities

We ask that you meet each of these responsibilities. They have been established in order to help you and your mentee have the best possible experience during your participation in the Youth Mentor Program. It is very important for you to communicate with your mentee, YWCA staff, and the Youth Mentor Program steering committee on a regular basis. We are interested in hearing how things are going, and also want to make sure you are not having any difficulties. Please let us know if there are any additional ways we can help make this a positive experience.

• Attend a mentor training session when you first join the program
• Contact and meet with your mentee on a weekly basis for approximately 2-3 hours.
• Attend program-wide events and small group activities.
• Maintain contact with your Steering Committee member and YWCA staff on a regular basis.
• Attend all monthly Informal Steering Committee group meetings at a time of your choice.
• If your phone number and/or address changes, notify both your mentee and the YWCA as soon as possible.
• If at any time you feel that you can no longer participate in the Youth Mentor Program, please discuss this with us as soon as possible.
• We strongly recommend that you do not participate in the program if you have any doubt about maintaining the commitment to your mentee for the entire academic year (through May).

Mentee Application Process

• Complete the Mentee Application
• Turn the application in to your school counselor or after-school program coordinator, or the YWCA.
• After your application has been received and processed, you will be contacted about your status. If you have been matched, the mentor will contact you.
• Please feel free to contact the YWCA at any time if you have any questions about the program or the status of your application.

Mentee Responsibilities

We ask that you meet each of these responsibilities. They have been established in order to help you and your mentor have the best possible experience during your participation in the Youth Mentor Program. It is very important for you to communicate with your mentor, Steering Committee members and YWCA staff. We are interested in hearing how things are going, and also want to make sure you are not having any difficulties. Please let us know if there are any additional ways we can help make this a positive experience.

• Attend a parent orientation if one is scheduled.
• Contact and meet with your mentor on a weekly basis for approximately 2-3 hours.
• If your phone number and/or address changes, notify both your mentee and the YWCA as soon as possible.
• If at any time you feel that you can no longer participate in the Youth Mentor Program, please discuss this with us as soon as possible.
• We strongly recommend that you do not participate in the program if you have any doubt about maintaining the commitment to your mentee for the entire academic year (through May).

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