The Go-Betweener® Mentoring Program
Immigrants and refugees, especially children and adolescents, have the experience of "going between" their culture at home and American culture at school and in the community. This can prove to be especially confusing and challenging as these youth are often able to learn English and adapt to American culture faster than their parents. Sometimes, there may be little support and guidance present as their parents are working long hours at multiple jobs to survive. These children and adolescents are at particularly high risk for falling behind in school, dropping out, and becoming involved with drug abuse and gangs.
We match these youth very specifically with adult mentors who share 3 important characteristics with them:
- They are also immigrants or refugees.
- They are from the same (or similar) cultural background.
- They speak the same home language.
This way, they are able to relate to and support their mentee in a way that no one else could. They understand the unique challenges that their mentees face, and they are able to communicate effectively with their families - connecting them with resources in the community and helping them to learn to be successful in the United States while maintaining their roots with their home culture.
What are the requirements? You must:
- Be between 18-50 years old
- Be 1st/1.5/2nd generation immigrant or refugee
- Have reliable transportation
- Speak English fluently
- Speak the target language fluently
- Commit to spend time with your mentee at least twice per month for a minimum of 1 year
Want more information about being a mentor? Download our informative PDF. If you cannot read the PDF, download Adobe Reader for free.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please download and fill out this application and email it to volunteer.coordinator@cultureconnectinc.org, fax it to 404-292-8458, or send it by mail to P.O. Box 250, Clarkston, GA 30021. If you have questions about this program please contact us.
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