Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Africa

1. Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Africa

2. Mission “Making a difference one by one by enabling creative relationships between a caring role-model and a child be established through friendship”

3. BBBSSA Mentoring …A structured, goal-directed 1-to-1 mentoring relationship between an adult volunteer and a young person in need. Targets Children/Youth between the ages of 6-18 years Focuses on the needs of the youth within a consistent, caring and supportive relationship Provides positive role-models and life experiences to help build quality values such as self-esteem, self-respect and respect for others Serves to enhance the quality of the youths life and aims to assist them to reach and develop to their full potential

4. International Status BBBSSA is affiliated to BBBSI 4th leading BBSS Programme in the world 1st country in Africa to implement the programme exceeded international benchmarks in terms of quality, quantity and length of a match

5. The BBBSSA Branches

6. Focus Areas The child is the primary client of BBBS and is identified as a child at risk or in need due to single parent households, sibling headed households, domestic violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, HIV/Aids or other familial disturbances which renders the child emotionally vulnerable and in need of a supportive relationship Schools- Based Programme Children's Home Programme Diversion Programme for youth in conflict with the law Diversity Programme for physically challenged children Programme in support of those affected and/or infected by HIV/AIDS Child-Headed Households Programme

7. Background 2000: September - Big Brothers Big Sisters South Africa becomes recognised as "Programme in Formation" affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters International. 2001: July - 20 of South Africa's first BBBSA matches established. Schools Programme established in Maitland. 2002: January BBBSSA Launches a branch in Gauteng, to bring mentorship to the children of Gauteng 2002: Awarded full Affiliate status by Big Brothers Big Sisters International Chosen to be THE project to represent the Western Cape at Nelson Mandela’s 84th Birthday celebration BBBSSA is the first African Big Brothers and the 31st country in the world to host Big Brothers Big Sisters. BBBSSA is the first African Big Brothers and the 31st country in the world to host Big Brothers Big Sisters.

8. Background Cont… In co-operation with the Department of Psychology at the University of Cape Town, BBBSSA started it's own evaluation with a first study in December 2002. It was continued by a further outcome study in October 2003. The following main results are significant: Increase in communication skills Increase in academic performance Reduced participation in risky activities Reduction in the number of times being involved in a fight "Evaluating a Youth Mentoring Programme in South Africa" by Johann Louw and Basil Russell, University of Cape Town.

9. Background Cont… 2005:BBBSSA KwaZulu Natal is launched in Chatsworth at the Nelson Mandela Youth Centre 2006:February - The Umsombvu Youth Fund, National Youth Commission and BBBSSA Partnership Launch takes place in Mamalodi, being endorsed by South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. 2006: August - BBBSSA Pietermaritzburg is launched in KwaZulu Natal. November - BBBSSA Gauteng hosts the 1st National BBBSSA event in Celebration of Mentorship. BBBSI CEO, Kitty Balsley, visits BBBSSA. 2007: Expanded to Pretoria, featured on SABC2 ‘Morning Live’ Breakfast Show

10. Objectives & Goals Reduce Antisocial Activities: help them cope with peer pressures think through the consequences of their actions become involved in socially acceptable activities lessons the tendencies to get involved with harmful activities, substance abuse, early parenthood. Improve Academic Outcomes: encourages the value of education takes an interest in the youth’s school progress volunteers influence their Little’s attitudes toward school and their school performance.

11. Cont… Better Relationships with Family and Friends: help the youth learn how to trust others express feelings more productively and generally become more able to relate effectively with others. Improve Self-Concept: a successful relationship will affect how a Little feels about themselves instill a better sense of competency, self-worth and respect. Social and Cultural Enrichment: Many of the activities that the volunteer and Little participate in over the course of a match expose the Little to new experiences.

12. BBBSSA Volunteer Application Process Application form 3 Character references Interview Security check Training

13. Training Goal To equip new volunteers with training that will develop and support them in their role as adult mentors to young children recruited from schools, children's homes, diversion programmes and children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS, who have been identified to be in need of mentorship. Objectives To facilitate the "Mentor Preparation Training Courses" at regular intervals in order to equip volunteers with basic life-skills that will assist them in the fulfilment of their role as mentor. To provide additional in-service training sessions at regular intervals throughout the year for the benefit of all mentors, which focus on specific specialist areas relating to issues that they may need to deal with in their match relationships. Modules 1. Relationship Building 2. Self-Esteem Development 3. Communication Skills 4. Values And Ethnicity 5. Child Development 6. Sexuality

14. Success Stories

15. Success Stories We doing well, so much has happened since last we spoke at the Awards Presentation. I was pregnant at the time, but unfortunately miscarried a week later. June has been an enormous support in dealing with this experience and has helped me bounce back, stronger and more positive than before - she's my little angel in disguise. June is keeping very well. We hosted her for 2 weeks during the Christmas holidays and she spent the remaining 2 weeks with my mother, as my hubby & I were in Durban. In fact, I'll be taking her back to Firlands this afternoon so that she can start preparing for her return to school on Wednesday. I'm very proud to announce that not only has she passed St 8 but also improved on her rapport during the course of 2005. My hubby & I are highlighting the importance of good education and trying to motivate her on being more focused on her school work, especially during St 9 - just being in St 9 is already such an accomplishment for her. In fact one of her best friends failed and will be repeating St 8. This is the same friend whose family hosted June on weekends, the time that she was caught out for lying to Matron about her whereabouts' and was grounded - and then we were matched - can you believe it, the same friend. Thinking back, I thank God for His intervention as I'm confident That she would have shared the failure of St 8 had we not been matched. She has changed so much since that experience. I must be honest, I'm very sad that the holidays are over 'cause it was an absolute pleasure to host June. We both have discussed and agreed that we will be continuing our friendship for this year and I pray that many more good experiences will come of it. Kind Regards Svenja

16. Success Continued… Well let's see. I completed my training in 2004 with Natalie and about a month later they told me that they have matched me. I met with the Big Brother agent at Firlands Children’s Home and they introduced me to my Little.  Jaco was 13 at the time, he was a little shy at first but we quickly warmed to each other. Initially I only visited him at the children's home and we played Yoh Gi Oh.. Big Brother matched us excellently since we had the same interests and enjoyed the same things.  After the first 3 months I was allowed to take him out, we did all kinds of things, from movies to paint ball and always had a great time together. He opened up to me fairly early, I think it was only about the 5th time I saw him that he started to talk about his parents and how he felt about them.  Of course it isn't that easy to gain your Little's trust. The big thing that I found which made the difference was being dependable. You need to show up every week at the arranged time consistently. One day I was late and Jaco must've thought that I wasn't coming , and by the time I got there;  I adopted Jaco in June 2006, which was amazingly easy. Of course since Jaco was 15 already they basically just asked him what he wanted, and it was signed sealed and delivered. The process essentially took about 3 months. And voila we are now officially ‘family’.   We moved to Singapore shortly after the adoption, and Jaco is doing amazingly well. We expected the worst here in Singapore because not only was he struggling in school previously but he now had to be educated in English. But he is doing really, really well. I think all he needed was a little support.   He has now adjusted well and made a whole lot of friends. We will be celebrating his 16th birthday on the 27th of this month. This will essentially be the very first birthday party he has ever had, and it's only the start of his future… a future where he will actually have a chance to reach his potential…   Regards,   Minette.

17. Recommendations: The match between Izelda and Jean marked the beginning of our 2nd National Partnership, this time with Girls and Boys Town. Comment from Izelda: “I find this to be a nice rewarding programme where you can get quite involved and also have the support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Africa and Boys Town. It’s good that you don’t require money or anything, just time. I have a really close bond with my little and this is definitely something I would recommend to others.”

18. Value of Mentorship “How do we get the world, not just the world leaders, but people in the world, to see that all children are really our children? It takes ordinary people to get involved in ‘ensuring that every child is given a chance’ for a better future. The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” Former President Nelson Mandela

19. Contact Us Cape Town: (Head Office) Tel: 021- 551 6996 Fax: 021-551 7379 Email: makeadifference@bbbssa.org.za Durban Tel 031-461 1137 Fax:031-461 5649 Email : bbbskzn@bbbssa.org.za Pietermaritzburg: Tel:033 345 6929 Fax: 033 342 1615 Email bbbspmb@bbbssa.org.za Gauteng: Tel: 011-482 2740 Fax: 011-482 2742 Email: bbbsgauteng@bbbssa.org.za