By Trudy Simpson, Staff ReporterFOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD KHALIA Brevett had often wished for more adults in whom she could confide and ask for advice.
The elder of two children being raised by a single mother who sometimes works late, Khalia said she joined a mentoring programme run by voluntary organisation, Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) so she could have another adult, besides her mother, with whom she could talk.
In July, she got both confidante and mentor when YOU matched her with Sashane McDonald, last year's awardee of the Carrera's post-graduate scholarship.
"There are certain things that I can talk to my Mommy about and there are certain things I can share with Sashane. She has taught me to be confident," said Khalia, a student at Excelsior High School, Mountain View Avenue, St. Andrew.
Khalia is just one of more than 1,500 students helped by YOU since it was started by Betty Ann Blaine in 1991.
YOU has reached into schools in vulnerable communities to give students valuable gifts such as self-esteem and good guidance through a network of support programmes for adolescents. These include one-to-one mentoring between specially selected students, their parents and mentors, who are recruited to provide students with the emotional support, career and positive communication; adolescent workshops providing practical life skills and a homework centre. But the YOU needs more mentors and is in dire financial need, being at least $4 million short of the $12 million it needs to operate each financial year. It is hoping to get more support from corporate Jamaica and the public.
"We are not just looking for a handout. We started the Christmas card project at least six years ago and every year we get these cards and we ask the public to purchase Christmas cards in aid of the programmes so we can keep the programmes going. We really would like some help," Ms. Blaine said.
The funds will go toward maintaining YOU programmes such as peer counsellors training and motivational talks in schools; parenting education, career guidance, counselling and annual summer day camps and workplace orientation programmes. One programme, the 'Shadow Week', allows participants to work within a business environment under the supervision of an employee or 'shadow' the person assigned to them.
Money will also be used to boost the mentoring programme.
"As a mentor, you realise kids not only need guidance but want it. You realise there is this yearning for someone just to be able to speak to, some one to listen or a different point of view," said Michael Jureidini, a YOU mentor for 11 years and general manager of Caribbean Depot. He joined Ms. Blaine in asking for support.
Students want persons who will "just be there so they can call and talk about any little thing whether it be their first date, being rejected by someone of the opposite sex, school work, choosing a career, how to deal with a particular situation. It's all about listening and helping them find solutions to their own problems," he said.
Companies and persons wishing to buy Christmas cards or contribute to YOU with cash or by becoming a mentor can contact Youth Opportunities Unlimited at 759-2080-1 or 930-6823 or at 4 Camp Road, Kingston.
