Vashti’s Residential Youth Mentorship Program
By introducing youth to new experiences and sharing positive values, mentors can help young people avoid negative behaviors
and achieve success.
Mentoring Children Benefits Everyone
- They’ll get to spend time with you to learn how to rebuild trust and experience consistency
- You’ll learn more about yourself than you thought you would
- Adolescents are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- Children are 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- Children are 52% less likely to skip school
- Youth are 37% less likely to skip a class
- Our community will have a more stable citizen who carries life skills, and capabilities with (we hope) a faith-based foundation to thrive
Who can be a mentor?
A mentor is someone who is compassionate, caring, and patient. Our youth value adults who are reliable and consistent, especially those youth who have only experienced the opposite. They are someone our youth can count on and look up to.
How much time is involved in mentoring?
Our goal is at least 1 hour a week or 4 and ½ hours a month. Being a mentor does involve time and commitment. We can be flexible to work with your schedule; however, the children have more free time on the weekends. We realize as time progresses you will develop lasting bonds with the kids and may want more time with them. As your relationship grows, off campus activities are allowed.
What are the children like?
The Vashti Center is licensed for children ages 11-18. They are very lovable youth who bond easily with caring adults. Each one is unique and special in his or her own way. However, the children have many things in common:
- Some have experienced some form of abuse.
- Some have been in several out of home placements like foster care or group homes.
- Most of the children are in the custody of the State of Georgia.
- All of them want to be back home with their parents, guardians, and families
- Our 18+ youth want independence
Other common traits and problems are low self-esteem, poor performance in school, few friends, poor peer interactions, and lack of good judgment and distrust of adults.
However, many of our children are musically talented, athletic, artistically creative. Others have a gift for writing poetry and short stories, and innate abilities to work well with and love animals.
They are kids who are in need of love and support from caring and compassionate adults. Our mentoring program is one way we can provide this type of care. They crave the positive attention, and we know you’ll get a lot out of it too.
Apply to Mentor
It has made an impact in my life by having a mentor because it has made me feel like I have a family…to have somebody who was there for me…hard times or no matter what I was going through I could call them and that’s a big deal.
– Vashti Resident, age 18
I love my mentor. She makes my days better.
– Vashti Resident, age 16
Support Our Mentorship Program
If you believe in our mission and want to support it but simply don't have the time to give at this time, our kids would love you for donating to this cause and we will too!“Inspired by the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, who said, “Our job as Christians is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.” The most central, most beautiful, and most challenging aspect of Jesus’ ministry was his absolute insistence that the good news, love, and blessing of God are intended for every single human person.”
“Mentoring a child at Vashti is an opportunity to love others as God has loved us. Ultimately, mentoring isn’t a one-way process. It’s a two-way street. It has the potential to change—indeed, to radically transform—not just one life, but two. We are transformed in both the receiving and giving of the love of Christ.”
“I hope you consider being a part of the transformative work here at Vashti. We are excited to see the gifts you bring as a mentor and for your partnership in enriching the lives of the children and youth. We need you!”
Blessings,
Chaplain “Chap” Michael