On March 3, 2011, MLA Janice Sarich presented the following message to the Legislative Assembly
Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise today and speak about the Alberta mentoring partnership, which features government, community agencies, and youth working together to increase mentoring opportunities to support Alberta’s children and youth.
The vision of the Alberta mentoring partnership is that every child and youth at risk who needs a mentor has access to one. Mr. Speaker, mentors are urgently needed across Alberta. There are many more children and youth waiting than mentors available to volunteer. Becoming a mentor is a great way to contribute to improving the lives of young people. Mentors are also positive role models in the lives of the young people, in turn helping them to become successful, contributing adults. You don’t require special skills or a lot of time to be a mentor. As little as an hour a week can make a positive and lasting difference in the life of a child or youth.
During the month of March, Mr. Speaker, the Alberta mentoring partnership will run an awareness and recruitment campaign that will be seen and heard on radio stations and billboards throughout the province. The theme of the campaign is Mentoring Makes Sense: You Don’t Have To Be Superhuman To Be a Mentor, But You Can Feel Like It.
We know from research that when young people feel supported, they are less likely to become involved with drugs or crime and more likely to complete high school and move on to postsecondary education or the workforce.
Mr. Speaker, supporting children and youth is everyone’s responsibility. I encourage all Albertans to step up and consider mentoring a child or youth and to help improve the lives of our province’s young people.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise today and speak about the Alberta mentoring partnership, which features government, community agencies, and youth working together to increase mentoring opportunities to support Alberta’s children and youth.
The vision of the Alberta mentoring partnership is that every child and youth at risk who needs a mentor has access to one. Mr. Speaker, mentors are urgently needed across Alberta. There are many more children and youth waiting than mentors available to volunteer. Becoming a mentor is a great way to contribute to improving the lives of young people. Mentors are also positive role models in the lives of the young people, in turn helping them to become successful, contributing adults. You don’t require special skills or a lot of time to be a mentor. As little as an hour a week can make a positive and lasting difference in the life of a child or youth.
During the month of March, Mr. Speaker, the Alberta mentoring partnership will run an awareness and recruitment campaign that will be seen and heard on radio stations and billboards throughout the province. The theme of the campaign is Mentoring Makes Sense: You Don’t Have To Be Superhuman To Be a Mentor, But You Can Feel Like It.
We know from research that when young people feel supported, they are less likely to become involved with drugs or crime and more likely to complete high school and move on to postsecondary education or the workforce.
Mr. Speaker, supporting children and youth is everyone’s responsibility. I encourage all Albertans to step up and consider mentoring a child or youth and to help improve the lives of our province’s young people.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.