By Tyler Wright
The Hills Community Strengthening Initiative (HCSI) is looking for volunteers to join its six week mentoring program at St Luke’s Anglican Church in Cockatoo.
2XL, a mentoring program for children in grades two to six, requires around 15 to 20 adults to spend an hour a week with a child who may need extra support.
HCSI Project Coordinator Naomi Dewar said the program runs for about six weeks during the school term, with the organisation partnering with Cockatoo Primary School and Gembrook Primary School.
“We have an adult paired up with a primary aged child and they’ll do projects together, and it can be as simple as building lego or cooking,” Ms Dewar said.
“We’ve got one or two gentlemen who like to repair a BMX…It’s completely dependent on the mentor and the child.”
Having a grown up spending time with the child and focusing on their wellbeing builds resilience and the ability to overcome challenges, Ms Dewar said.
“When a child has an adult investing in their lives, it makes a huge difference,” she said.
“You do see a massive change and it’s a blessing both ways… I had one mentor say last year’ I thought I’d be coming in as a knight in shining armour to help his child, but really by the end of the program it changed me, and I was really blessed for spending time with this child and their family.
“For a child to know there’s an adult who is coming to spend time with them, to ask them questions, it really helps develop that confidence and that connection and they feel valued, and that’s a really important part of their development and confidence as they move forward.”
Mentors involved in the program are provided training.
The 2XL mentoring program is funded by Anglicare and is undertaken in partnership with St Luke’s Anglican Church.
For more information, email naomi.dewar@echo.org.au
