Being a part of a mentoring organization can be a rewarding experience on either end.

Many children who had a mentor look at it as a valuable experience because they had someone to look up to and guide them in the right direction.

“Anne Riley took care of me when they took my mom away. She did a lot of stuff for me like taking me swimming and helping me with my homework,” said Kadriana Stokes, a mentee at One Million Girls empowerment organization.

Being a mentor can be a fulfilling experience as well.

“I taught them to always be their selves…and that it’s ok to try new things. A lot of things that I didn’t know coming into high school,” said Courtney Smelley, a former mentor with Link Crew.

There are many programs in and outside of schools in the Metro Detroit area and many other places that aim to serve youth and have a positive impact on their lives.

Mentoring and community outreach programs are built to help younger children with many issues and challenges that they’ll come across in life and allow them to feel like they have someone who they can come to.

Many of these children leave their mentoring programs as a much better person and having learned new things from people who they can look up to.

 

Mentors are also affected with a sense of accomplishment and success in making someone else’s life better.