Mentors set to be role models

The Rotorua-based Big Brother Big Sister programme was officially launched last night.

An international mentoring programme renowned for creating lifelong matches has found its feet in Rotorua.

Big Brothers Big Sisters was officially launched at the Rotorua Lakes Council Galleria yesterday.

Rotorua co-ordinator Darryl Parker said he had trained 12 mentors so far and was hoping to get 20 matches by the end of the year.

"We are always looking for people to take part. At the moment we have eight women and four men trained up but would love to get more.

Darrell Parker

"The next step is getting word out there that we are looking for children to take part. However, our challenge is that most of the expressions of interest we've had for children, have been for boys, and the way the programme works, we only match up boys with men, and girls with women," Mr Parker said. "We want to send the message that there will be many girls out there who also need a role model and this programme will be able to offer that ..."

Mr Parker said they were looking for "normal kids who are just lacking a stable male or female role model in their lives".

"We want all the matches to be perfect ones. In New Zealand, the average match lasts more than two years. In many cases the matches last a lifetime, that is our ultimate goal, creating that trust and lifelong role model. We are not looking for counsellors who can fix the kids, we are looking for dedicated people who can devote some of their time to helping grow a child in a positive environment."

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been running in New Zealand since the 1990s. The youngest mentor was 18 and the oldest 86.

There are no prerequisites other than a background check. The minimum time requirement is one year. Find out more at darryl.parker@bigbrothersbig sisters.org.nz. He is based at the Rotorua police station.