A mentor is an experienced person who volunteers to provide guidance and support in a variety of ways by being a role model, guide, tutor, coach or confidante to a less experienced person.

• 59% of mentored teens get better grades.
• Overall, youth participation in mentoring relationships experience positive academic returns.
• Better school attendance.
• Increased chance of going on to higher education.
• Better attitudes towards school.
• 81% of teens feel that talking with adults helps reduce teen pregnancy.
• 53% of students credit mentors with improving their ability to avoid drugs.
• Mentoring enhances many aspects of young people's social and emotional development.
• Participating in mentoring promoted positive social attitudes and relationships.
• Mentors can open a new world to foster children that they otherwise may not have and help them realize their potential and dreams.

Mentorship is a powerful coming together of people from diverse parts of the community. Many research studies have supported the benefits of mentoring programs for at-risk children. Mentors truly make an impact in a child's life. Whether you are there for an entire school year, a brief overseas placement, or one afternoon - your time is invaluable. Mentors are role models, big brothers and big sisters to children and youth who desperately need positive guidance and safe and stable boundaries. A mentor can instil in high-risk children a sense of hope, inspiration, and self-respect.

Activities are driven by topic of interest. Mentors can be involved with the children in a variety of ways: developing a project for performance or display; introducing the children to new career paths or leading them in new positive directions that are of interest to them; doing hands-on projects or exploring thoughts and ideas; accompanying students on field trips or to places of interest. Mentorships may include expanding the student's knowledge and skills by introducing them to other like-minded people or to resources or places relevant to their shared interest.

Mentors and children can meet in the classroom, your business site, or other mutually convenient locations in the community as approved by child guardians.

This is dependant on the program: for domestic United programs, the minimum is ONE afternoon during the school year (Sept-June). If you want to contribute more than that, please don't hesitate to do so. The few hours you give will make a HUGE impact on the lives of these children.

For Overseas United Programs, you must be willing to commit to a minimum of a two week placement.

If you are interested in volunteering in our United Program, email volunteer@calebshope.org for more information and to complete a very simple online application. To support our programs, visit us at www.calebshope.org

Please note, for all United programs, prospective volunteers are required to complete a simple application form as well as obtain a Police Record Check and Vulnerability Screening Report. Because we work with children and vulnerable persons, this is a non-negotiable requirement.

If you are from outside of Vancouver and SCLA and are interested in contributing in your own community, please contact us. The more volunteers and mentors we have ready to go, the better chances we have in getting program started in your area.