Sharing Some Magical Details…

Big Brother Little Brother Match ~ Torval & Alex

Torval, the Big Brother & Alex, the Little Brother have been matched for over one year.

Torval on Alex…

“I’ve volunteered for a lot of different charities but I’ve always been a ‘volunteer’ and though it is fulfilling, it’s never been quite like being a Big Brother. I’m the youngest of a family of five and though we have all grown up, there’s still a child in every heart! Being a Big Brother has allowed me to keep that: I can still be a baseball player, ride a bike down the most insane hills and feel what it’s like to learn something for the very first time. I feel like I actually am his big brother and I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world. The program has given me an opportunity to meet a wonderful child and watch him grow into a bright, young man.”

“Alex is a great friend. He’s more than considerate, forgiving, kind-hearted and a funny, funny guy! He’s definitely smarter than I was when I was that young. Who am I kidding, this dude knows more than I do about a ton of stuff: he’s a talented athlete and musician and a confident auto body mechanic…well he will be soon! For Alex, being such a good looking and talented young man who doesn’t compromise his values, I should probably feel threatened…but he makes me feel so comfortable being myself; just like a good friend should.”

“The things we do for activities are only limited by our imagination. If there’s one thing that Alex and I have its great imagination! We’ve built a fish tank out of a TV, changed a tire (Well mostly he did the changing!), golfed, built a snow castle, tie-dyed our clothes, gone to the drag races and we may have even dressed up to go to the Monster Trucks…it’s been so much fun!”

“Being a Big Brother has given me more than I can describe and has reminded me that the simplest things in life can make the biggest difference to someone else. For just a few hours out of my life, I’ve given my Little Brother a bit of a road map to his future. The directions are clear, become a Big Brother and be a witness to the little moments and big magic of life. I have, it’s great.”

Alex on Torval…
“I like being a Little Brother because I get to do fun stuff like go for bike rides and picnics. We do a lot of outdoor activities. We’ve gone swimming at Blackstrap Lake and just like to hang out. We took apart an old TV and made a fish tank with five fish and two snails. This weekend we are going to put together a fire pit at my house and then roast hot dogs and marshmallows.”

“I like that Torval is a really good friend that spends time with me and always talks to me nicely. He never makes me feel stupid.”

Big Sister Little Sister Match

Two Sisters get Big Sisters!
Samantha and Sabrina are sisters, 3 years apart who each have a Big Sister.

Sabrina & Bev:
Matched for 6 years, Sabrina is 12 years old. Bev & Sabrina like to go swimming at the Travelodge, although Bev isn’t much of a swimmer. Says Sabrina: “She doesn’t like to put her head under the water but I’m getting her used to it.” When Bev received a voucher for an overnight stay at the Delta Bessborough, she took Sabrina. “We’re just 2 friends hanging out,” Bev says. Bev says that with Sabrina she gets to be a kid again. She admits that it is a commitment but “to hear her laugh, to get a hug from her, makes it all worthwhile.”

Debra & Samantha:
Matched for 5 years, Samantha is 12 years old.
In the summer, Debra and Samantha have picnics downtown in the park. It’s more than just doing things and going somewhere; it’s about being with someone. Someone to talk to. Someone who’ll listen.
“We talk a lot,” Debra says.
“Girl to girl,” Samantha says.

In-School Mentoring

Cameco, a corporate partner in the In-School Mentoring Program for 2 years, allows participating employees to leave work to spend 1 hour per week with a child at their school where they spend time doing activities together.

“Being a mentor is both challenging and rewarding. For two school terms I have been a
mentor to a young girl at St. Mary’s Community School. There have been days when she is withdrawn and quiet and it’s a challenge to draw her out and even elicit a smile. But when that smile comes, I know that we are friends. There are days when she’s happy, chatty and eager to do anything I suggest. A mentor has the freedom to plan activities that are classroom-related, such as helping with reading or math or to just have fun baking, playing games or doing crafts.”

“There are rewards for both the mentor and the mentee. I haven’t played hop-scotch for years, but last spring we went out in the school yard. First we blew giant bubbles with a bubble blower. When we ran out of bubbles, we had a couple of games of hop-scotch on the playground. It’s great to do kid-things again and my mentee loved it too! Now we are writing a creative story – perhaps you’ll see it in print some day. A mentor can encourage a mentee to reach for the stars – not just settle for the easy road. I hope that my involvement with this child will help her to gain self-confidence, develop integrity and in some way influence her to make positive choices.”

– Dori