Opinion: Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates mentors during National Mentoring Month

What a difference a mentor makes. A caring adult can change a child’s life, which is why Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is celebrating its “Bigs” in January during National Mentoring Month.

Ninety boys, girls and youth are awaiting a Big Brother or Big Sister in Buncombe and Henderson counties. Many of the 543 young people BBBSWNC served last year, ages 6-15, waited as long as a year to be matched with their Big. That’s a long time wishing there was an adult outside your family to take you places, to provide experiences you might not otherwise have. To help you with your schoolwork. To listen to you and to tell you about their own experiences. To have someone like the members of your family who want to bring out the best in you.

Throughout the 18 North Carolina mountain counties that Big Brothers Big Sisters WNC serves, there are 235 young people hoping that someone will step up and be there for them once every week or so, for as little as an hour each time. BBBSWNC, based in Asheville, vets each prospective Big and introduces them to the Little Brother or Little Sister whose interests are in line with their own.

BBBSWNC supports the “matches” with suggested activities and regular check-ins, ensuring a child’s experiences align with the parents’ or guardians’ expectations and the organization’s mission to nurture relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. The child’s safety is top of mind in everything BBBSWNC does, as is the professional support and supervision it gives to all matches.

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BBBSWNC, started in Asheville 41 years ago, has achieved verifiable results. According to its 2022 local youth outcome surveys, its "Littles" said they became more confident (97% of those who responded to the survey) and were more motivated to learn (90%). They participated more actively in school (93%) and improved their academic performance (88%). They exhibited better problem-solving skills (92%) and attended school more often (87%).

As a branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the largest and most experienced one-to-one mentoring organization in the nation, BBBSWNC supports critical social and emotional development that local children need to help build resilience and promote mental health and well-being.

And it happens while everyone is having fun. Site-based matches, which pair adults or high schoolers with elementary school students, happen during or after school, where the matches chat, hang out, and work on schoolwork. Community-based matches often go out for ice cream, walk around the park, and visit places they’d like to learn more about. Because of its corporate, foundation and individual supporters, BBBSWNC organizes and pays for many of these outings.

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These experiences are enlightening and exhilarating for the Littles, but they’re also rewarding for the mentors. Bigs often say they get more out of the experience than their Littles. Many matches remain friends long after the Littles have graduated from the program at the end of high school. Many former Bigs have attended their Littles’ weddings, graduations and family gatherings. Many of our former Littles are now Bigs themselves, mentoring children who benefit from their experience, knowledge and understanding of their lives.

Year-round, but especially in January, BBBSWNC celebrates its volunteers and recruits adults ages 16 and older to become Bigs.

National Mentoring Month was created in 2002 by Mentoring.org, a mentoring advocacy organization created more than 30 years ago, and the Harvard T.H. School of Public Health to “amplify, encourage, and strengthen mentorship for young people,” Mentoring.org states on its website.

Among national officials who have supported the creation of National Mentoring Month, according to the website, are former President Barack Obama and members of Congress, including the late Sen. John McCain. Additional support has come from Maya Angelou, Clint Eastwood, Quincy Jones, Gen. Colin L. Powell, Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Russell and Usher.

To learn more about becoming a Big and about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, visit bbbswnc.org or visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/bbbswnc.org.

Paul Clark is communications coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates mentors in Asheville