Mentoring Programs for Youth: How to Create a Successful Mentoring Program for Youth
Are you wanting to create mentoring programs for youth?
Congratulations you have taken the first step in helping our youth build and
maintain a strong foundation for the future. In order to create mentoring
programs one must be dedicated and committed not only to the person with whom
they are mentoring but to themselves as well. One cannot teach without first
being taught. Below are some guidelines which will hopefully help you in
establishing a successful mentoring program:
1) First off, it takes a very special and hard-working
individual to be able to become a successful mentor for today's youth. It takes
a long time to establish a foundation and then a lifetime to build and maintain
that trust that one needs from a successful role model in their life. Here are
a few qualities that one should possess if they desire to be an effective youth
mentor:
* Be an active participant; get out and get involved with
all aspects of your youth's life. One cannot just say, "do as I say, and
not as I do." We learn best by example and involvement.
* Be positive - things aren't always going to be great, but
by finding a positive way to always look at things they can be better.
* Be a good listener; sometimes all we need is a good ear
and to get things off our chest.
* Learn to laugh - they say its the best medicine.
* Be honest - honesty is the best policy. Without honesty
you have nothing established with the youth in your life or in any relationship
you will have for that matter. Honesty is the best foundation for a long
lasting and successful relationship.
Now that you've decided that you've got what it takes to be
an effective and positive role model for someone in their lives, you then need
to decide on which mentoring method is best for you.
2) Decide on which type of mentoring would benefit the youth
in your life the most.
There are two types of mentoring which one can choose to
involve themselves with and they are as follows:
a) One-on-One Mentoring
With one-on-one mentoring, which is the most common type,
you establish a long-lasting and trusting relationship with a specific youth in
your life. With this method you create a relationship in which the youth feels
like he/she can turn to you for all aspects in their lives. Whether it be for
advice, support or encouragement, you play a very important role in all aspects
of their lives and create a role model for them to look up to and confide in.
b) Group Mentoring
With group mentoring many individuals get together to share
their thoughts, problems and support in a group and social setting versus the
one-on-one method. You still play a very important lead as a guide to their
involvement however have less of a personal bond with each student. In group
mentoring the individuals work together more as a social entity than on an
individual basis. With this method they support each other and learn to
communicate with many different people and problems as opposed to placing all
their trust into one person. For some, this method works extremely well,
however, for others they may find it too unnerving and may have a hard time
interacting with larger groups as opposed to smaller groups or the one-on-one
method.
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