Education is one of the leading causes amongst the younger generation today. Whether it is in your high school or your neighborhood community center, mentorship programs are a great way to promote learning. Maybe you want to be an older sibling for other kids? Perhaps you want to be a reliable friend? Whatever the reason is, now you can! Look into a mentorship program that you know of, or use the information below to start one of your own.

How to Create Your Own Mentorship Program:

1. Who do you choose?

Who exactly will be taking part in the mentorship program? You may want to help first graders with their homework, or tutor junior high school kids in math. Deciding this will make the rest of the process a whole lot easier—you have a clearer sense of where to go from here.

2. Daily? Weekly? Monthly?

Now that you know who you’re going to mentor, how many times a week are you going to see them? You want to meet your mentees at least once a week to build a closer relationship sooner. Coordinate the details of the program as soon as possible so that others hear a solid, definite plan, not an unconvincing possibility.

3. Where do we go again?

If the mentees are elementary school students, you can travel over to their school for the program. Ask their teachers and administrators for a classroom or a space in the gymnasium. If the mentoring program is not school-related, you can look into local community centers. These centers have recreational rooms and resources that will help your program.

4. Gather ‘em up!

You need mentors for a mentorship program, so ask around! Let your friends and neighbors know of your new project, and ask them to help. If you are collaborating with your school, get permission to put signs up around the building. Provide people with all the necessary details so they know the commitment that they have to put into the program.

5. Food, fun, and friends

Don’t let the mentor meetings become a bore! Create a fun environment that the children will want to return to—sports, games, and activities that go beyond homework are always a plus. Food can also be a great way to bring the mentors and mentees together. Mentors can take turns bringing in snacks, or baking brownies for the kids.

6. Spread the word!

New mentorship programs can have some trouble getting people interested, as they are still unknown. After you have established the program, spread the word! Hang up flyers around your school and the neighborhood, and tell your teachers and friends. As the program becomes more known, you will have more mentors as well as more mentees.

If you would like to join an established mentorship program, or need extra help starting your own, check out the following links:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: http://www.bbbsa.org/

• EMT Website: http://www.emt.org/publications.html

• National Mentoring Center: http://www.nwrel.org/mentoring

• National Mentoring Partnership:http://www.mentoring.org