Imagine a world where every young person had a caring adult in their life to help them reach their full potential. This is what we at Mentor International work toward every single day and why we are thrilled to celebrate International Mentoring Day. For over 20 years, we have envisioned a world where children and young people are empowered to make healthy decisions and live drug-free. Mentoring contributes to that in often profound ways; its impact cannot be overstated. As US President Barack Obama stated last year, “By sharing their own stories and offering guidance and advice, mentors can instill a sense of infinite possibility in the hearts and minds of their mentees, demonstrated that with hard work and passion, nothing is beyond their potential. Whether simply offering a compassionate ear or actively teaching and inspiring curiosity, mentors can play pivotal roles in young peoples’ lives.” Research proves that mentors play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible life choices, attend and engage in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like drug use. Additionally, mentoring can have a positive impact on integrating displaced youth and unaccompanied minors, an issue that has become increasingly crucial given recent world events. It’s also fun! Both the mentor and mentee learn from each other, develop stronger social networks, and view their futures more positively.
Mentor International sees prevention and youth development as a collective civil responsibility; therefore, we partner with the business community, government agencies, schools, and parents to create healthy and productive pathways through our mentoring programs. Starting this month, we will share our mentoring stories from our National offices around the globe, real-life stories that prove the transformative powers of mentoring. One person can make a difference, and we encourage everyone to become a mentor and serve as a role model, advocate, friend, advisor. It may be one of the most life-changing experiences you will ever have.