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Your contribution will put the power of mentoring to work in the lives of hundreds of local children by helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands enroll, train, and supervise volunteers to be role models to children in your community. Thank you for your kindest consideration. | FRIEND | $25 | | MATCHMAKER | $100 | | PILLAR | $500 | | FUTURE BUILDER | $1000 | | DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE | $5000+ | Please make cheques payable to "Big Brothers Big Sisters" or if you wish to make a donation in cash please contact our office to arrange collection or drop off. Adolescence is a time of risk and opportunity. It is the transition to adulthood when youth are learning skills, attitudes, and behaviors for the rest of their lives. Modern economic trends, personal choices of adults, and public policies have converged in ways that isolate children from the attention of caring adults. Children need to have positive interactions with adults. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands matches qualified volunteers with children to create mentoring relationships. Mentoring is widely recognized as a powerful way to provide children with the friendship and guidance of an adult. Economic Benefit
The economic benefit is best described in terms of volunteer time and talent. A volunteer mentor gives about 200 to 250 hours each year to his or her mentee, while receiving no financial benefit. Each year in Grand Cayman, Big Brothers and Big Sisters spends more than 10,000 hours caring for local children. Comparable services would otherwise cost the Cayman Islands a minimum of $1.2 million, and even more in terms of the loss of human potential. Social
The social benefit of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program has been widely reported by Public Private Ventures, a national nonprofit organization that studies the effectiveness of social policies, programs, and community initiatives especially as they affect youth.
In 1997, Public Private Ventures (PPV) released the first in a series of studies on mentoring and children. In a controlled study, children with a Big Brother or Big Sister were found to make significant strides behaviorally, academically, and emotionally. For example, PPV found that within the first year of a Big Brother Big Sister match, children were 46% less likely to initiate drug use, 26% less likely to try alcohol, and 33% less likely to hit someone, than were children without a one-to-one mentor. An even stronger effect was found for minority Little Brothers and Little Sisters, who were 70% less likely to initiate drug use than other similar minority youth.
Program options for your child:
One-to-one match:
Little Brother - Big Brother
Little Brother - Big Sister
Little Sister - Big Sister
Little Brother - Married Couple
Big in School (not available at all schools)
For more information or to enroll your child please contact us. |
| A caring adult volunteer is matched to a child and serves as a companion, friend and role model. These "matches" are paired according to common interests, compatible personalities and who live within a convenient distance from one another. Volunteers commit to at least a one year relationship and select either a 4, 3 or 2 times a month frequency for visits. The important thing is that a child can come to know what to expect. During their visits they do a variety of activities based on their interests and with guidance from BBBS professional staff and input from parents. They can do activities either at the child's home or in the community with the permission of the parent/guardian. - Volunteers or "Bigs" are required to be at least 18 years old, able to use their own or public transportation to see the child, and willing to make a year's commitment. They are trained and screened by the agency and receive on-going support throughout their time serving as a volunteer.
- Children or "Littles" in the programs are between 5 and 14 when they enter the program. They must show a need for additional adult guidance and support in their lives.
- Matches are set up and supervised by professionally trained BBBS Mentor Managers. Traditional matches are also matched to the same gender. Our staff carefully interview and maintain contact with all volunteers, children and parents/guardians in our programs. Mentor
- Managers offer support to a match beyond the initial year if all are interested in continuing in the program. A "Little" can be in a match until he of she turns eighteen or graduates from high school.
- Two volunteers with a significant relationship can serve as "Bigs" to the same child and be a "Couples Match". This can be a married couple, two adult family members or good friends. The advantage is that volunteers can share this time together and be matched to a child that is compatible to both. The child gets two friends and the valuable experience of seeing positive adults communicate with one another. Both volunteers are screened and trained and allowed to transport the child.
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| Bigs In School is an enrichment program for elementary and middle school children. The program applies the Big Brother Big Sister mentoring model in a school setting. Research over the last two school years shows that children with a Big Brother Big Sister mentor have improved attitudes toward school, achieve higher grades, and communicate more effectively with peers and adults. Bigs In School is a way for businesses to adopt a class or school and encourage their employees to become workforce mentors, breakfast buddies, academic mentors and traditional mentors. | |
| Matches do all kinds of neat things together. They talk, visit local sites, play games learn new skills, read together or simply just "hang out". Depending on their interests they might play sports make arts and crafts, go on a picnic, visit the park, go to the library, go window shopping, or even learn how to ride a horse. We ask the volunteers to concentrate on doing low or no cost activities. Friendships are based on caring and time spent together! | |
| - Hosts group activities for matches to attend from an Annual Spring Picnic and a Holiday Party to bowling and other recreational activities.
- Program available island-wide on Grand Cayman.
- Distributes donated tickets so Bigs and Littles can attend local events like sports and movies.
- Offers a support group for volunteers, BIG BUNCH.
- Offers additional training on topics such as communications skills, building self-esteem in children, sexual development and youth and violence.
- Offers referrals for other needed services and some crisis intervention that isolate children from the attention of caring adults. Children need to have positive interactions with adults.
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| By Mail
Big Brothers Big Sisters
P.O. Box 32178 SMB
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
B.W.I. Direct Debit
Provide Bank Name
Account Name
Cash Amount
Choose 1 time or 6 months Hobbies & Books
Designate your $5
Christmas tree donation
to Big Brothers Big Sisters Gifts/Events
You/your company
could sponsor gifts
or a special event |
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