Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince George is pleased to announce that September is “Share a Little Magic Month”.  During the month our agency will be joining the other 130 agencies across the country in recognizing those individuals who help us create magic daily! 

Our agency is committed to ensuring that “every child in Prince George who needs a mentor has a mentor”. Why Mentoring?  It is simple, Mentoring Works!  As a preventive program, the benefits of mentoring have been well documented and have a positive effect on the community. 

A study of five school-based mentoring programs conducted in 2002 by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America found that:

·         64% of the children developed a more positive attitude towards school

·         58% achieved a higher grade in social studies, languages and math

·         60% improved their relationship with adults

·         56% improved their relationship with peers

·         55% of the children were found to be better able to express their feelings

·         64% developed higher levels of self-confidence

In 2005, almost 3000 children living in British Columbia were partnered with a mentor in one of the many Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.  The government in British Columbia is supportive of the work that our organization does because it is proven that mentoring works.  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada has completed studies on the effects of children who have a positive mentor in their lives.  They found that:

·         These children  are less likely to lose their tempers when they get angry

·         These children are less often sad, fearful, angry, frustrated and anxious

·         46% are less likely to initiate drug and alcohol use

·         78% of “littles” who came from a social assistance background no longer rely on this form of income