About Ann Rolfe

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Ann Rolfe is internationally recognised as Australia's leading specialist in mentoring, and is available for speaking, training and consulting. Here Ann shares her knowledge and allows you to ask your most pressing questions about mentoring.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Mentoring Young People

In the USA, a nationwide drive to recruit volunteer mentors for young people targets America's 77 million baby boomers, with the message : "Share What You Know. Mentor A Child". As people live longer and enjoy better health, we can give to our youth. Learn more: www.whomentoredyou.org.

At the International Mentoring Association Conference a few years ago in Chicago many of the delegates were involved in youth mentoring. Particularly impressive was a session presented by Stephanie Sylvain and Joan Haldeman featuring the Philadelphia County program, Pathways PA. This program assists young women and teen mothers, promoting self-sufficiency through mentoring, employment and education programs. Learn more: www.pathwayspa.org.
 
Here in Australia, many programs assist our younger generation. Here are two shining examples
Whitelion supports young people to build better lives for themselves and helps make our community a more inclusive and safer place.

Each year thousands of young people are disconnected from our community due to abuse and neglect, drug addiction and poverty. These young people have often had horrific life experiences with few positive role models and are caught in a "cycle of discouragement' that is very hard to break. Many of these young people end up in out-of-home care and in some cases in the juvenile justice system.

Whitelion gives young people the best chance to break the "cycle" through positive role modeling, mentoring and employment, and the opportunity to build positive lives for themselves as part of our community.Learn more: www.whitelion.asn.au/.

Plan-it Youth was a Central Coast initiative, which commenced in 1997 at Berkeley Vale Community High School supporting young people in transition between school and work, through mentoring.
Plan-it Youth brings together a range of local community groups who  work for the benefit of young people. Learn more: www.dsf.org.au/plan-it/.

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