If you’re looking to make a difference in the community, the Greenville Mentoring Collaborative is an excellent place to begin. GMC is a network of youth-mentoring organizations and other stakeholders working together to give all youth access to quality mentoring programs.
Director Alecia Brewster says GMC makes it easy for volunteers to get started by connecting them with opportunities that would be the best fit for them. With partners such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, Fostering Great Ideas, GirlUP GVL, the Hispanic Alliance, Mentor Upstate, and the Urban League of the Upstate, GMC can offer details about a variety of mentoring opportunities and other ways to support youth mentoring in Greenville.
“Volunteers can let us know what age group would be best for them, whether they prefer to be more career-focused or not and whether they’re willing to be paired with children who have faced legal and other challenges,” Brewster says, noting that mentors can also choose between one-on-one and group mentoring.
Prior experience is not required, according to Brewster. Volunteers simply need to be willing and dedicated.
“We’re looking for individuals who will actively listen to young people, understand the challenges they may be facing and believe in their potential,” she says, adding that GMC’s mentoring partners equip their mentors well. “Whether you’re helping with social, behavioral, academic or career goals, the mentoring program should provide training and support so you can do your best to impact that child’s life.”
Even if you can’t make a long-term commitment to mentoring, you can make a difference by donating to mentoring causes, advocating for mentoring and recruiting mentors for local programs.
For more information about mentoring or about GMC, visit GVLmentoring.org and watch this video: https://youtu.be/wrnqlybDwvg.
