Mentorship
UNYA’s Mentorship Program matches Indigenous youth ages 12 to 15 with trained volunteer mentors. If you are looking for a mentor for Indigenous youth ages 16 to 18, please navigate to the Kinnections Mentoring Program on our main Programs page, ‘Housing & Transition’.
Participating in the Mentorship Program is an opportunity to form a trusting relationship with a non-judgmental, encouraging adult who you can talk to, try new activities with, and go to for advice.
Our mentors help you realize your strengths, work towards your goals, and build your confidence and independence. Your mentor will be a supportive, caring, and stable role model who can help you with making positive choices.
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COMMITMENT:
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Youth must be willing to commit to meeting their mentor for two to four hours per week for at least one year
Youth must be able to communicate and meet in person with their mentor on a weekly basis
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WHO ARE OUR MENTORS:
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Our Volunteer Mentors are a diverse group with varied backgrounds and life experiences. While the youth in our program may self identify as Indigenous, our mentor bring diversity in terms of their identity, education, job and life stories.
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Program Activities
- Self-directed, community-based activities that are fun, positive, and healthy. Some examples are: arts and culture outings, sports and rec, social and educational activities
- Tickets to events in the community are occasionally donated to the program, and passed on to mentors and their youth. For example: tickets to sporting events, movies, Science World, art galleries, etc.
- Tickets to events in the community are occasionally donated to the program, and passed on to mentors and their youth. For example: tickets to hockey games, movies, the aquarium, Science World, art galleries, PNE
- Ongoing support, assistance, advocacy, and guidance from UNYA's Mentorship Program staff
How To Get Involved
The Mentorship Program is great for Indigenous youth ages 12 to 15 who want to connect with a role model for advice and support, to work towards their goals, or towards positive change in their lives. Please see the Kinnections Program page for mentorship opportunities for Indigenous youth ages 16 to 18.
Program staff work with both mentors and youth to help them build and maintain a positive relationship throughout the mentorship.
Indigenous youth ages 12 to 15 can self-refer or be referred by someone else, as long as youth are aware of and receptive to the referral. Youth and mentors are matched based on need, interests, location and availability. Priority is given to MCFD referrals (through the MCFD Youth Program Referral Form).
If you or a youth you know would like a mentor with the UNYA Mentorship program, please complete referral form seen here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/UrbanNativeYouthAssociation/MENTORSHIPSelfReferralForm
The earliest youth can apply to the Mentorship Program is 6 months before their 12th birthday.
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DUE TO OUR WAITLIST, our program may not be able to match everyone on the waitlist
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If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please fill out the Mentorship Volunteer Application located here: https://unya.bc.ca/get-involved/#volunteer
