Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Pembina Valley has held a long-standing tradition of offering one-on-one mentorship to the youth in the region.
However, with a shortage of volunteers — particularly male volunteers — the organization is restructuring its approach to mentorship, according to Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley, Jenelle Neufeld.
Addressing the shortage
Neufeld shared that for the BBBS, finding male mentors is a struggle that is not new to the organization.
“Unfortunately, we just have a severe lack of volunteers, and this isn’t news to anybody but specifically males. You know, we have the same young men on our waitlist that we have for a number of years, unfortunately. It is just the reality that we are in right now.”
Despite the lack of mentors available, the need remains unchanged. This has prompted them to think outside of the box and explore alternative ways to support youth — without sacrificing the heart of their mission and has led to the introduction of group mentoring, a model designed to complement their established one-on-one mentorship programs.
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Group mentoring
As part of this shift, BBBS is launching an after-school, group mentoring program at Central Station, designed to take place on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
Neufeld shared her hope that the format would be an appealing, low-commitment option for volunteers.
“I think a lot of people get nervous if they have such a broad opportunity to think of activities to do with their mentee, right? So, giving them kind of more of a structure, you come at four o’clock on Wednesdays, you can play board games, help them with homework... just have the conversations with them... Be consistent.”
For those unsure about committing to one-on-one mentorship, the group model provides a low barrier to entry, though still creating meaningful impacts on the youth they serve.
Remaining focused
While the new group mentoring program is a strategic response to current volunteer shortages, Neufeld stresses that BBBS will continue to welcome volunteers for one-on-one mentorship.
“That is what we started as... it’s kind of like our roots right? And we will always have that.”
It is Neufeld’s hope that, as more people engage with the organization through group programs, they will gain a deeper understanding of BBBS’s impact and want to become more involved.
For anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about how they can get involved, they can visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley by clicking here.
Click below to hear the full interview with Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley, Jenelle Neufeld.