Tillsonburg flag-raising highlights the need for mentors
Big Brothers Big Sisters Month is being recognized across Canada this month — and, here in Tillsonburg, there's a local flag-raising Monday that comes with a pretty important message.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County will raise its flag at one o'clock Monday afternoon. It's a chance to celebrate the mentors who are already making a difference in the lives of young people — and to encourage others in the community to consider becoming mentors themselves.
Manager of Communications for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County, Liz Wismer-VanMeer, explains:
There's a very real reason behind that invitation. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County currently has roughly 135 young people waiting for a one-to-one mentor. And that number doesn't include young people waiting for in-school mentoring or those taking part in group programs.
Wismer-VanMeer says sometimes what a young person needs is simply one more consistent adult in their life:
Liz says that support doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Traditional Big Brother and Big Sister matches usually involve a few hours together once a week. But there are also in-school mentoring programs, where you spend about an hour a week with a young person during the school year, as well as shorter group programs involving activities like games, yoga, dance, karate and visits to farms. So, if you're thinking that mentoring sounds like something you'd like to try, there are different ways to get involved. And here's perhaps the best reason to consider it.
Wismer-VanMeer says some of the young people who came through the program years ago are now adults - and they still remember the person who showed up for them:
That's what Monday's flag-raising in Tillsonburg is really about.
Yes, it's about recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters Month, but it's also about recognizing the people who show up for young people — and reminding the rest of us that maybe we could be one of those people, too.
If you're interested in becoming a mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County says the first step is simply to get in touch and have a conversation about which program might be right for you. You can click here to do that.
