WESTFIELD – The “Be Great Graduate” Mentor Program at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is designed to help encourage youth who are deemed at risk of dropping out when they reach high school by providing consistent support from caring and trusted adults.
The Mentoring Program involves recruiting volunteer mentors who will be matched with a youth mentee. Volunteer mentors agree to meet their mentee at the Club for at least one hour per week for one year.
“I describe the perfect mentor as someone who is caring, supportive, and understands that it only takes one hour a week to improve and make a difference in a child’s life,” explained Program Director and Teen Outreach Coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club Jose Roman.
“I think this program is a great way to encourage youth to want to go to school every day and stay in school. A lot of the time kids just need a push and some positive reinforcement and then there is no limit to their potential,” explained Roman.
This program uses the early warning signals (attendance, behavior and course failure) to identify youth at risk of dropping out of school and is available to current and new members of the Club who are in grades 5-8. Youth interested in becoming a part of the Club’s mentor program need their parents or guardian to fill out an enrollment form.
Research data indicates that mentoring programs have increased grades of mentees by 59 percent, made them less likely to use illegal drugs by 46 percent, and they are also 53 percent less likely to skip school.
Lina Borges, 17, commented on her experiences with mentoring at the Club.
“I have mentored before and absolutely love it,” he said. “I enjoy giving back to the kids at the Club that has given me so much.”
If you are interested in sharing your time and your knowledge and making a difference in the life of a child, please contact Jose Roman at 413.562.2301 or stop by the Teen Center at the Boys & Girls Club.
