What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is when a caring adult offers guidance and support to a young person. It occurs every day in a variety of contexts. In fact, most of us have been an informal mentor at one time or another and may not have even realized it.

Formal mentoring, the kind that takes place within an organization, provides a structured relationship that is used to amplify the impact of one-on-one guidance and support.  When a young person enters into a mentoring relationship that is effectively managed by a mentoring provider, the relationship is structured in a particular way.  For instance, the frequency and duration of the match's meetings are specified by the mentoring provider.  That prescription for behavior, gives a consistent form, or structure.

Mentoring is a powerful way to help young people achieve their potential.

• Improves attitudes towards parents, teachers and peers
• Focuses on the importance of education
• Confronts daily challenges
• Provides a positive structure for free time
• Highlights options for career paths

The process of mentoring a young person differs from program to program and from person to person. Mentor groups in some programs meet for lunch in the school cafeteria, while others choose to meet in the community over pizza or ice cream. Some meet at their local place of worship. Some mentor groups enjoy working on projects together, others prefer going to a movie. The one thing all quality mentoring programs have in common is that they place a caring adult in the life of a young person and provide the support needed to ensure an effective and healthy bond.

What happens after that is the alchemy of mentoring—a young person is brought closer to reaching their potential.