Are you looking for a way to make an impact in your local community? Mentorship is a great way to provide one-on-one support to the country’s future leaders. The positive relationships built between mentors and young New Zealanders can improve the wider community and the country as a whole.
What is mentoring?
A mentor is someone who shares their knowledge, expertise and experience with a younger person, known as their mentee. The mentor offers guidance and support to the mentee, helping them grow personally or professionally.
Youth mentoring in New Zealand has grown in popularity since the 1990s, but its roots here go back much further. Māori “mentoring” tradition pre-dates European contact, with older whānau members (Tuakana) supporting younger members (Teina).1
The mentoring relationship can provide general life encouragement, or can focus on a specific area. Youth mentors may help students build healthy self-esteem and resilience, define their education and career goals, or develop a specific talent. Relationships can also be based on cultural identity, strengthening the link between the child and their ancestral heritage or religion.
Helping a child grow and thrive
Many studies have proven the benefits of mentoring young people.
Children and teens with strong mentors are less likely to become involved in criminal activity, drug taking and alcohol abuse. They are less likely to leave school early, and their academic performance often improves. Young mentees also have better relationships with their parents and teachers than peers who are not mentored.2
By mentoring a young person, you could make a big impact in their life. Mentors often become a trusted friend and confidant to their mentee, providing support and friendship well into adulthood.
More than a one-way street
People often see mentoring as a primarily one-way relationship. However, being a mentor can be a rewarding experience beyond feeling good about helping a young person.
Being a mentor helps build your own leadership skills. Giving sound advice, bringing out the best in others, and being diplomatic whilst getting results are all important parts of leadership and mentorship.
The lessons you teach as a mentor are good reminders to yourself. Remembering to focus on one’s positive qualities is as important for you as it is for your mentee. Helping them work towards an education or professional goal can reinforce your own work ethic. Teaching your mentee a new skill or concept helps you learn it better as well.
Finally, your mentee can teach you something too! Young people have many skills and knowledge they can pass on to older adults. Their worldview may be very different to your own, due to their age, growing up amidst technological change or coming from a different background. If you’re open to listening and learning, you could learn as much from them as they can from you.
Getting started
Ready to start making a difference in a young person’s life? There are many ways to become a mentor.
Ask your local community groups, schools or places of worship if they have programs you can join. You can also register with the NZ Youth Mentoring Network or Big Brothers Big Sisters. Groups will have screening, matching and training processes that you’ll need to complete. These may include a big time commitment, but are important to matching kids with the right mentor. Ultimately, all this prep work helps make the experience better for everyone involved.
If you’re not sure what your mentoring role will entail, just ask! Groups typically assist new mentors with training, resources and activity ideas. The NZ Youth Mentoring Network has free ‘how to’ tools on their website, and other NZ and international organisations also offer free online resources.
Making a difference
Becoming a mentor to a young person is a big commitment, but can also be rewarding experience. Providing a child or teen with support, advice and encouragement could make a huge impact in their life and yours too!
Are you a youth mentor? Share your stories and tips with our Facebook community!
1. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, The Effectiveness of Youth Mentoring Programmes in New Zealand.
2. NZ Youth Mentoring Network.
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
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