Big Buddy mentoring works on the simple philosophy that boys need good male role models in their lives to become good men. For many reasons, lots of boys in New Zealand don’t have a father and while mothers do a courageous job raising boys alone, they can’t model maleness. And above all else, boys learn through modelling!
Showing up
That’s where Big Buddy comes in. Since 1997 we have carefully screened hundreds of volunteer men from the community and matched them with fatherless boys aged 7-14. Big Buddy mentors spend at least 2-3 hours a week with their Little Buddies, doing whatever they both enjoy – usually simple stuff like walking on beaches, throwing a ball around, making things and visiting places. The important thing is that the Big Buddy shows up regularly in a boy’s life and take a real interest in him.
Outstanding results
The idea is simple but profound. Having a Big Buddy:
- Increases a boy’s self-esteem
- Improves his relationships
- Helps him do better in school
- Means he’ll be less likely to get into trouble
- Will improve his employment options
The statistics on positive mentoring are clear and compelling. It’s about making a world of difference to fatherless boys’ lives – one visit at a time.
