Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal launch a new youth mentoring program for the LGBTQ2+ community of the Greater Montreal area.
Having a mission of offering support to LGBTQ2+ youth in Montreal, this new program is an addition to the diversity and inclusion mentoring services offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal. Its creation was financially supported by the Ministry of Justice as part of the Fight against Homophobia and Transphobia Program.
A first in Montreal
The LGBTQ2+ Mentoring program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal is one of a kind. It consists of matching a youth aged 6 to 21 years with an adult mentor, both identifying as LGBTQ2+. The goal of the program is to encourage the youth’s personal development through a meaningful friendship with their mentor.
In order to further refine the offer of this new program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal collaborated with organizations in the LGBTQ2+ community, namely the Coalition of LGBTQ+ Youth Groups through the L’Asterisk project, Interligne, the LGBT Family Coalition as well as GRIS -Montreal.
A long-term mentoring relationship based on trust and shared interests is what our organization aims to establish when we create matches, says Maxime Bergeron Laurencelle, Executive Director at BBBS. In addition, numerous neuroscience studies show that children and youths who succeed in the face of adversity have benefited from the presence of at least one stable, involved and caring adult in their life.
According to Marie-Philippe Drouin, L’Asterisk Project Coordinator, In a world where prejudice is persistent and difficulties are encountered daily for LGBTQ2+ youth, having access to a positive role model and mentor is synonymous with acceptance, support and validation. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal LGBTQ2+ Mentoring program is a great opportunity to provide a mentor to young people who do not recognize themselves in the adults around them and thus allow them to develop confidence, esteem and resilience.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal is dedicated to helping children and youths who are faced with personal and socio-economic difficulties, as well as their families. Our agency offers professional mentoring services and an opportunity to acquire and improve personal strengths and interpersonal skills, contributing to a healthier life over the long term. Thanks to the involvement of volunteer mentors and donations from the community of Montreal, the organization currently provides quality mentoring services to more than 1,500 youths.
