Richland One looking for mentors during National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month, and Richland One’s Office of Dropout Prevention and Mentoring Services is asking community members to consider becoming mentors to students in the district.

“Mentors provide students with exposure and opportunity which helps change their outlook on life. They are so important to students’ education because they can motivate students,” said Kerry Abel, Richland One’s coordinator of dropout prevention and mentoring services.

The Richland One Mentoring Initiative is a district-based mentoring program designed to provide mentoring services to male students. The program is structured to empower, inspire and encourage young men to achieve their full potential and dreams.

There are two mentoring models offered:

• Small-Group Mentoring
  • One or several adults to a group of youth
  • Regular contact once a week for 45-90 minutes
  • Set time period – usually the school year and summer
  • School provides support, monitor and supervision
• Cross-Age Peer Mentoring
  •  One youth (high school student) to another youth with adult leadership
  • Special interest such as assisting with a school project or reading to student
  • Regular contact once a week for 45-90 minutes
  • School provides support, monitor and supervision

Mentors can help students with completing school assignments as needed, goal setting, effective problem solving and conflict resolution, anger management and handling peer pressure. Mentors can also take students out on field trips, picnics and sports and recreational games to help expose them to activities inside and outside their community. Structured, free and fun activities can serve as the best bonding opportunities for mentors and students, as they can have lasting impacts on mentees’ lives and teaches them how to build strong relationships.

“Mentors provide students with the hope that they can succeed in life.  They help students find the best inside of them and motivate them to reach their full potential,” said Abel.

Prospective mentors are required to go through background screening and must complete a two-hour mentor training session before being matched with a student. Due to the possible limited number of mentors, some mentors will have to do group mentoring. Program staff and school administration will determine if a student will be matched with a single mentor.

Mentors come from different businesses, organizations, churches and fraternities across the Midlands including 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia, the City of Columbia, the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University’s Call Me Mister program.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to a Richland One student, contact Kerry Abel at (803) 231-7182, (803) 553-0072 or [email protected].