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.