Growing up can be hard, and many single-family or newly immigrated families need a helping hand. It’s organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island who ease those challenges. They provide much-needed mentorship to adults and youth through individual and group programs, helping to develop heathy young people and filling a necessary role in the West Island community.
And September is mentorship month for BBBSWI. “We try and reach out to those who need the help of a mentor the most, and every year we promote awareness and what makes a mentorship relationship so successful,” said Julie Wu, who is in charge of marketing. “Mentorship is a special journey [whereby we’re creating] building blocks, day by day, with the help of caseworkers.
” The West Island chapter currently has 100 members, however there is a big demand for male mentors. “We have a wait list that is predominantly male because, very often, parents specify that they would prefer a male mentor — they make up 80 per cent of the wait list,” said Executive Director Valentino Pietrantonio. “This is always an ongoing need, and we see this across the whole organization.
” Their in-school mentoring program is important to them as well, and they’re hopeful that they can continue to expand the project with a bit of financial assistance. “We currently have a partnership with 14 elementary schools, in both French and English, and we’re diversifying even further,” Pietrantonio said. Nick was.