Mentoring is a small act with a huge impact.

A Personal Note on Mentoring

I've been a mentor through the YWCA since 2023, and truly this experience has been great.  There are different ages of kids in the Live Y'ers program who have mentors, starting in 6th grade, and going through their senior year of high school.  When I signed up to be a mentor they needed mentors for high school-age students, and that was fine with me! I just wanted to help.

Without giving away too much of my mentee's (this sounds so formal) personal information, I was paired with a student in high school, and I still meet with her every month.  She is honestly way cooler than I ever have been and ever could hope to be, and over the past two years, I like to think maybe I've taught her a thing or two (but I can guarantee that she's taught me twice as much).

High school can be a hard time, and being a teenager is a tough/weird time in our lives, so as a mentor I get to act as a sounding board and a cheerleader.  Someone who my mentee can come to for advice, while also being someone who will always believe in her, cheer her on, and push her to do her best.

If you are looking for ways to volunteer and make an impact in someone's life, I cannot recommend mentoring through the YWCA enough.

YWCA Mentor Program

The YWCA also has a great mentoring program that coincides with their Live Y'ers program. This program serves on average 160 at-risk youth per year through an after-school program and a mentoring program. According to the YWCA

This long-term relationship allows us to reach our overall goals for these girls of high school graduation, delay of pregnancy, embracing a drug-free lifestyle, and achieving post-secondary success. After grade 12, the YWCA offers a scholarship program that helps participants reach their educational goals.

Beginning in 6th grade students are paired with an adult mentor who will act as a role model of sorts this is where the mentors come in.

Beginning in 6th grade, students are paired with an adult mentor, who meets with them at least once a month to act as a role model, sounding board, and coach. They continue their relationship through grade 12.

Men Can Mentor Too!

In 2023 Live Y'ers was able to grow and add mentoring opportunities for boys.

In 2023, thanks to community support and volunteers, we were able to add mentoring for boys attending Glenwood Leadership Academy to our Live Y'ers program and look forward to watching these relationships deepen and grow.

For more information on becoming a mentor contact Courtney Edwards at 812-422-1191 or cedwards@ywcaevansville.org.