"We commit to Canada's young people that we will be leaders in providing them with the highest quality, volunteer based mentoring programs"
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) is the leading child and youth serving organization providing mentoring programs across the country. Providing support to more than 1000 Canadian communities, our over 140 local agencies offer the service that the organization was founded on: One-to-One Matching. Men and women (age 18 or older) give of their time to become a mentor to a young person who can greatly benefit from having an adult role model to look up to.
Times change. Volunteers change. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada has also changed. In response to the different needs and demands of children, youth, and volunteers alike, we have created new programs to fit our changing society. Couples for Kids, Cross Gender Matching, In-School Mentoring, Big Bunch, and Kids 'n' Kops group programs (for those kids on the waiting lists), and the new Life Skills Program all provide a variety of opportunities for volunteering and support to children and youth.
For over 80 years, the Big Brothers Big Sisters program has made a difference in the lives of young people by providing a friend where one is needed.
The impact made by our volunteers is truly overwhelming. Children who have been in our program see real, positive change. Our Littles go on to graduate from high school at a rate of 20% higher than the national average. 78% of Littles who came from a social assistance background no longer rely on this form of income and a disproportionately high number of former Littles graduate from college or university compared to others in their age group (Project Impact, Social Planning Council of Hamilton and District, Hamilton, 1994).
Currently, over 26,000 children are matched with adults in one-to-one programs. Our challenge is to find matches for the 10,000 kids on our waiting lists.
(Source: Big Brother and Big Sisters of Canada Website) http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/en/Home/AboutUs/ourmission.aspx
Aaron C. sharing at Inspired Alliances, Apr 2, 2009
Big Brother and Big Sisters of Canada
July 2009 Edition
Helping people to Discover, Connect,
and Make a Difference!
Name: Aaron C.
Participating in: The Big Brother Program
Profession: Forensic Accountant
Million Dollar Smiles
Youth Stopping Youth Violence
Making a Difference in China
Christina Chan., shares with all, how we can help those in desperate need of medical resources in the poorer regions of China.
Mike Prosserman just graduated last year from University. He has taken his passion for hip hop and break dancing into High Schools, spear-heading a youth led movement against Violence called UNITY.
Anna Lopes wanted to pay it forward so she started a non profit organization to put smiles on the faces of people facing major challenges in their everyday lives.
Riding to Conquer Cancer
Building Homes, Building Hope
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Aaron Chan., C.A. Forensic Accountant, volunteers his time at CA tax clinics, providing free tax services for low-income families, and is also a Big Brother.
Ian Macrae inspired many people at the Inspired Alliances' June event with his stories of people coming together to help build homes for families in the Greater Toronto Area.
Maia Alvina wanted to pay it forward so she started a non profit organization to put smiles on the faces of people facing major challenges in their everyday lives.
Light the Night Walk
Steve Holder talked about his experience with being diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) in the spring of 2008, his road to remission, and Light the Night Walk.
