INTERGENERATIONAL MENTORS
Mentoring program helping to boost children’s confidence, grades
Principal applauds pilot program
“Sometimes we make a mess, don’t we?” Sandy Ladouceur said as she unpacked cupcakes, icing sugar and decorative supplies.
“Oh, yeah,” Kailyn Brennan replied with a big grin before the pair’s latest messy assignment.
For an hour every Wednesday afternoon since October, Ladouceur, a retired nurse, and Brennan, a spunky nine-year-old in Grade 4, get together with other pairings of adults and students in a supervised mentoring program focused on building friendships between generations.
Partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor Essex, the program has been a huge success on many levels, said Elise Daragon, principal at St. Bernard Catholic elementary school.
“It’s been a very beneficial program for the children — having an adult significantly invested in them shows them their value ... we see the benefits,” said Daragon, whose school hosts the pilot project. St. Bernard’s sister school, St. Jules Catholic, also participates.
“Mentoring in general contributes to strong and healthy communities,” said Becky Parent, acting executive director of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Between Generations Intergenerational Mentoring Program for Kids — officially unveiled Wednesday — has had “tremendous impacts and many positives,” Parent said, including improved social skills and educational outcomes.
Proponents are now hoping more “mature mentors” (ages 50 and up) will come forward to volunteer in the unique one-on-one program. Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board spokesman Stephen Fields said the board is open to seeing the program spread to other schools.
To help with ongoing expenses, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation announced a $4,500 donation this week. “Our goal is to inspire philanthropy ... and inspire partnerships — you are making our community a better place to be,” foundation executive director Lisa Kolody told the participants.
Ladouceur said she was looking for something to do outside the health sector field after she retired from her nursing job and was approached to become a mentor by the Life After Fifty organization. Since becoming Kailyn’s mentor, the grandmother of five has been “telling everyone I know” to join her as a mentor. Parent said there is always a waiting list of local children in need of a mentor or a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Kailyn said the couple enjoys cooking, decorating, crafts and playing games, including Shut the Box. Ladouceur baked a dozen cupcakes the night before, and this week’s hour together was devoted to decorating them.
The two friends from different generations hit it off from the start. “On Day 1, she said, ‘We’ve got a lot in common,’ ” Ladouceur recalled her young friend confiding in her.
The grades 3 and 4 kids are referred to the program by their teachers and the school. Parent said any adults aged 50 and over wishing to become mentors should contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at 519-945-6232.
To learn more, visit online at bigbrothersbigsisterswe.ca.
To learn more about the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, what it does and how you can help give back to the community, visit wecf.ca.