National Mentoring Month, celebrated throughout January, has boosted awareness and the number of volunteers at mentoring programs across the country. In Buffalo and around UB, programs like Big Brother Big Sister try to help enrich both the lives of student volunteers and the children involved.
In his recent State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush urged citizens to volunteer and become mentors. Included in his focus was a $450 million plan to train mentors across the country and fund programs such as Big Brother Big Sister.
"Tonight I ask Congress and the American people to focus the spirit of service and the resources of government on the needs of our most vulnerable citizens - boys and girls trying to grow up without guidance and attention," Bush said in his Jan. 28 speech.
Community Relations Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County, Alicia Lamanna, agreed.
"There are always needs for more volunteers," she said. "I am absolutely elated by the president's efforts and of public support for such programs."
According to Lamanna, few students take the time to volunteer for younger children.
"We live in a community with a large university community," she said. "More students should get involved. You can take your little brother or little sister to any activity that you wouldn't normally think of, like the library or to a basketball game on campus. Just think about the time we waste on the weekends watching TV, and that adds up."
Lamanna said busy schedules are often the number one factor why not enough students are involved in the Big Brother Big Sister program.
"I remember the days of being busy with school and work," Lamanna said. "The program is very flexible though, and involves only a three to five hour per week commitment."
Meisha D'Aguilar, a sophomore English major, said that she would volunteer if she had more time.
"If I had the time, I would definitely volunteer," she said. "The Big Brother Big Sister program is very important to children who need guidance in their lives."
D'Aguilar also spoke of the valuable education children gain from such programs.
"Some of these kids don't have anyone to look up to, so they need someone like a big brother or big sister volunteer to teach them valuable lessons. I have always said that knowledge equals power equals respect, and all the money in the world means nothing without them. They get this from programs like the Big Brother Big Sister program," she said.
Anthonia Bakare, a sophomore double majoring in philosophy and political science, and a Big Sister volunteer, agreed.
"The Big Brother Big Sister program focuses on education and values," she said. "Too many kids look up to athletes and musicians and don't really know the value of education unless they are shown it."
Bakare said that her experience as a Big Sister volunteer has been invaluable.
"Volunteering benefits both parties and the kids really look up to you and appreciate what you do. More people should get involved, because actions speak louder than words," she said.
She also expressed her disappointment that UB does not have a program like the Big Brother Big Sister program to get involved in.
"I looked all around campus," Bakare said. "UB didn't have anything that I was looking for."
For those who seek any type of mentoring experience, UB does offer some opportunity experience as a UB 101 Peer Mentor. This program places upper level students in a UB 101 class as a mentor to incoming freshmen.
Lamanna said that the most rewarding part of her job is the development of the relationships formed through the program.
"I love seeing how the relationships grow from the initial nervousness of the adults to the kids saying how much fun they are having. I really love to hear the kids say that their big brother or big sister is their best friend," she said.
She also spoke of how enriching an experience it is for both the mentor and the children.
"Most adults and students are nervous at first," Lamanna said, "but they agree in the end that they definitely should have volunteered sooner."
For students seeking information about the program, Lamanna suggests visiting the program's Web site at www.beafriend.org.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
