Real Stories

From a Mentor

“I recently had to go to where my young person attends school for my work. I have often wondered if the bubbly happy girl I see, is the actual bubbly happy girl all the time.
As I walked into the school I saw her walking across the campus. She had not seen me but I could see she walked with her shoulders back and head held high, she had a smile on her face and was clearly feeling happy and secure. I felt ecstatic to see that the girl who used to stare at the ground really does now enjoy the sunshine on her face!!!
It was also a fantastic boost to my confidence when she did see me and a massive smile appeared on her face. She came over immediately for a quick chat and to share some of the things happening in her life at the moment.
I don’t know if my being her mentor has had anything to do with the changes in her but I do know that she thinks it is great that there is actually an organisation full of people who just want to hang out with kids like her and I know that has to have had an impact….it makes me smile!”

Tania

At age 13 Tania was bringing marijuana to sell at her high school. Soon after that she left school and asked one of her former teachers to write a reference for a new job. The teacher said that Tania had potential and he could see her making something great out of her life. Tania was soon to become a single mother and this seemed beyond her reach. The next few years continued to be difficult, but Tania found hope in the encouraging words of the one teacher who believed in her, and she enrolled for university at the age of 24. Years later, Tania has fulfilled her dream by becoming a practicing barrister. Tania’s decision to volunteer as a mentor with BBBS is based on the knowledge that one person’s encouragement can transform a life from despair to success. (Name has been changed)

Shawn

Shawn was in the midst of a difficult family situation, with a mother who didn’t want him, and a father who was abusive. With even his own parents not willing to take care of him, Shawn’s future looked bleak. Around this time, a local businessman, Mark, decided to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Christchurch, and was chosen as a Big Brother for Shawn.

The friendship between Mark and Shawn has had some really positive results. Finally, someone cares about Shawn and can show him how to enjoy life. Shawn has commented that even though his own father isn’t there for him, his Big Brother is – and that means a lot to him. Since having a mentor, Shawn’s reading age has improved, and he has managed to avoid getting involved in crime.

Mentoring has given Shawn a close friend, new opportunities, hope, and a chance to succeed in life.

Kane

Kane was a quiet, shy boy who didn’t seem to have much going for him. He had no male role models, and very few fun experiences in his life. But all this changed when his mentor started seeing him each week. Whether it was throwing a rugby ball around, cooking sausages on a barbeque, or baking a cake, Kane had a great time. But it was more than just fun: when Kane returned to class, he was a brighter, happier child. When it came to story-writing time, Kane normally had little to write about, but now he wrote about all the fun times he had with his Big Brother. Now he had something worth writing about; now he had a reason to smile.

For Kane, happy memories were created simply by spending one hour a week with his new Big Brother.