A Personal Approach to Mentoring

In 2008 YWCA Brisbane partnered with two local primary schools, Somerset Hills and Runcorn Heights, to deliver a different kind of mentoring program.  This program matched year 5 and 6 students with an adult in order to improve school performance and support students in the areas of literacy and numeracy skills, self esteem, social integration, and school attendance. Twenty matches of mentors and students (40 participants) met weekly for 1-2 hours with a YWCA Program Coordinator and a school representative on school grounds. 

Mentors were able to assist these young people in developing positive relationships and encouraged them to not only stay in school, but helped them build resilience to combat some of the financial, social and societal problems they face. Fostering positive relationships with adults can support young people in overcoming obstacles, and help them learn coping skills at a young age that will last a lifetime.