Are you looking for a way to invest your time as a volunteer? You can help at non-profits in a variety of ways, but perhaps one of the most rewarding ways to do so is as a mentor. What distinguishes mentoring from other volunteer pursuits is the potential to establish a long-lasting connection with another individual. As a mentor, you can be a positive influence and put your years of wisdom to good use.
Volunteer mentorship opportunities are an excellent way to give back to your community. Read on to learn why and how you can get involved!
Help Mentees Set and Achieve Goals
Mentorship programs can be an effective way to help individuals establish both short-term and long-term goals. Young people live in a world of dizzying distractions, so the prospect of identifying goals can seem overwhelming or even useless. Mentors can help these individuals see that their actions in the present moment will impact their potential down the road. Through carefully worded questions, mentors guide their mentees toward articulating concrete goals that might spark more engagement.
Good mentorship enacts structure. Mentors work with their mentees to outline plans and benchmarks along the path to a goal’s completion. For a student aspiring to be an electrician, for instance, that plan might start with improved performance in science classes. And it might progress to obtaining an apprenticeship or enrolling in a relevant technical program at a community college.
Find Meaning Through New Connections
Many people assume that the power of mentorship impacts only the mentor. But it can positively impact the mentee just as much, if not more. Individuals who crave purpose beyond their career and daily routine will enjoy a chance to forge human connections outside their usual orbit. Mentors can impart wisdom gleaned from personal experience. And they can provide needed reassurance to individuals who may feel uncertain about their future.
Intergenerational connections afford opportunities to bridge perceived divides across generations, too. Working with young people from different socio-economic backgrounds helps to build understanding. At the same time, a mentorship connection can expand both the mentor and mentee’s ability to empathize. At OhanaHC, mentors bring various work histories and personal stories to the table. But all are united in their effort to help students develop character, leadership skills, and tenacity.
Seek Volunteer Mentorship Opportunities
How do you volunteer as a mentor? Countless non-profits and schools run mentorship programs and are actively seeking new mentors. You’ll just need to understand the time commitment requirements and be willing to undergo an onboarding process. After all, being a mentor means knowing when to listen and when to interject.
OhanaHC makes it easy to get involved as a mentor in the community. You’ll also be equipped with the tools to do so successfully through high-impact training and reflection sessions with fellow mentors. Please fill out the contact form on our website or email us at info@ohanahc.org to learn more about how you can become a mentor!