NAME: BARBARA LLOYD
Age: 50
How long have you been mentoring: About three years in the community (I was a school based mentor at Victory School for a couple of years before that.)
How I got into it: I used to work for BBBS and could see what a difference these friendships made to the lives of the mentors and to the young people.
I thought the organisation was so cool – such a simple idea with such enormous benefits. When I left the job, I wanted to stay involved and becoming a community mentor seemed like the perfect way to do that.
Who I mentor / My Little Sister : Fatima aged 16
I was inspired by: The passion of the other BBBS staff and the mentors I worked with.
Part of my job at BBBS was to meet up regularly with the mentors, the young people being mentored and their families, to find out how things were working out.
I heard so many positive stories of friendship and fun. I really believe that ‘‘it takes a village to raise a child’’ and the more adults we have looking out for the young people in our community the better.
It helps if you can: commit to spending time together on a regular basis – especially in the beginning as you’re getting to know each other.
Things we do together: We go swimming, walking and biking. We’ve done a lot of baking (and eating) cakes. We’ve been sailing and made clay pots, but some of our best times have probably been just hanging out talking over a cup of tea.
Best experience / best thing about it: Getting to know Fatima has made a big impact on me and my family.
Hearing Fatima talk about her childhood in Afghanistan, her journey to New Zealand and her experience of settling here in Nelson just fills me with awe. She is a clever, funny courageous young person and I feel very lucky to be part of her life.
Best tip: Ordinary, simple everyday things shared with a friend can be very special
Heart-warming moment: Being welcomed into Fatima’s home and meeting her mum and her brothers and sisters and hearing Fatima introduce me as her ‘‘big sister.’’
This is /isn’t for you if: you have a little bit of free time, want to make a positive difference to the life of a young person and have a bit of fun.
Become a mentor today – 03 545 9864 or www.bigbrothersbigsistersnelson.org.nz