One Small Step: The Generous December Group Writing Project

At Tree Hugging Family when I say, “One small step” it usually means that we try to something small to make a positive difference for the environment. Each small step when added up can create a world of change; no matter if it’s recycling your cans, using less paper, or just turning off a light when you leave the room. Each step is part of the bigger picture. I’m a huge fan of small steps.

Kate over at Babylune has carved out her own version of one small step. She’s running a contest this month called The Generous December Group Writing Project. Her challenge, “On your own blog, write a new post about your favorite charity, social cause or helpful organization.”

What you win; in Kate’s words:

“The author of the winning post, the one that is most persuasive in convincing me of the organization’s effectiveness and importance of the need it addresses, will receive nothing. Instead, I will make a donation in their name to the charity or cause they have designated in their post. The amount of the donation depends on the number of participants.

If I receive between 1 and 19 entries, the donation will total $30.

If I receive between 20 and 50 links to participating posts, it will total $60.

If I receive more than 50 entries, the donation to the charity/cause of the winner’s choice will be $100.”

Such a great idea.

There are plenty of organizations I’m a fan of, Habitat for Humanity, Sierra Club, and more. It can be hard to choose a favorite but the organizations that I feel make the most long-term difference to the world are…

Youth mentoring programs and with good reason.

As a child, my siblings and I grew up in a rather, um… interesting home. A long story for another time. We could have turned out pretty screwy based on our upbringing. But we didn’t. As a young adult I knew people in turmoil, leading sad lives, being mean to others, and often they might say, “Well, this is how I was raised.” Often times their story was no where near as crazy as my childhood. So, how come I’m not mean? Why don’t I act loony and take advantage of people. What was the difference between them and I?

I had one adult who believed in me.

My mother did a lot of stupid things. But one stupid thing she did probably saved me (and my brother and sis). One night when I was five she went out to the bars. When she came home she had a man with her. Not smart. It’s never very cool to pick up people in bars. I lucked out because this guy was actually cool. He had a mom who became like a grandma to me — no, not like, I completely consider her my grandma he also had a sister who became an aunt to my siblings and I. My mom and this guy broke up a year later but his family strangely hung around. I spent weekends with his mom, she taught me to sew, paint, cook, gave me unlimited attention, hugs, told me I was amazing, all the things a child should have to thrive. This guy’s family came to every holiday, every birthday, and adored my siblings and I like we’d been born into their family. That’s the short version.

I’m stable and a good parent. I’m nice. I feel for others. My siblings are nice people — great friends. Had it not been for “some guy” at a bar, that chance meeting; I doubt I’d be who I am today. I appreciate this fact more than I can ever explain. In my early twenties I realized that it would be impossible to ever pay them back. I can never thank them enough. Ever. So, I decided the next best thing would be to pay it forward.

I started mentoring youth through various programs, through schools, and after school clubs, and other places. One of my favorite programs is Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. So, far I’ve been a big sister twice. In both Oregon and California. My littles (that’s what we call the little sisters), were both from families with negative issues. One of my littles from a very bad family. The best thing about Big Sisters is that the organization works very hard to match you — almost like you’re going on a blind date. Both my littles had likes and dislikes very similar to mine; making it easy to hang out and have fun.

Fun stuff I got to do as a mentor included; picnics, movies, beach clean-ups, tree plantings, reading, walks, art fairs, and sometimes just chilling out and doing out hair and chatting. My littles asked me about boys, make-up, school, how to paint flowers, family issues, all kinds of amazing things.

I think that every adult lucky enough to have a nice and happy life should mentor. There’s one child out there somewhere who can benefit from what you can give. Teens, single folks, and parents can all mentor. There’s even a grandparent’s program where Big Sisters will match up a child with a couple (grandparents).

Research backs up the Big Brother / Sister program. After 18 months of spending time with their Bigs, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters were:

• “46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
• 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
• 52% less likely to skip school
• 37% less likely to skip a class
• more confident of their performance in schoolwork
• one-third less likely to hit someone
• getting along better with their families”

Kids raised in extremely negative homes who somehow managed to carve out a positive adult life are know as resilient. Guess what research has found to be the only major difference between resilient and non-resilient youth? One adult, just one, who gave them positive attention and care.

I knew one Big Sister who was with her little for over twenty years. Her little hated school, hated life, was sad all the time. Her big sister mentored her, convinced her to attend college, and then later got to clap for her at her college graduation. I know a man who had four kids of his own but still decided he had a little more to give and he spent hours each week with one little boy playing basketball and chatting about life.

If you think you don’t have time to give one hour a week to one child then consider this; back when I first stared mentoring statistics showed that there were little boys on the wait list for a big brother for over seven years. Imagine being that little boy. Imagine never getting a big brother when you want one and need one. There are girls on the waiting list too but since more women mentor than men they don’t wait as long. Consider that these kids are are future. Our teachers, doctors, social workers, artists, tree planters, and parents or they may be our criminals. These are the children who will either create havoc or create positive decisions and change. Which would you rather have?

As someone who had a non-official mentor and as someone who has mentored over twenty kids; including homeless youth and school bullies, I can say that programs like this create positive change that cycles. If just one of the kids I’ve worked with grows up happier than I’m glad. What I think will happen, what I hope for, is that even one of the kids I’ve worked with will not only grow up positive and happy but that they will also pay it forward. They’ll grow up and become a mentor. And so on and so on.

As a collective community we’ve forgotten that it does take a village to raise a child. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is working towards a community who not only remembers this fact but participates in making it happen. Don’t allow children to sit and wait for a mentor. You could be the difference that changes one child’s life forever.

Small steps. One hour a week. Big changes.

To learn more about becoming a mentor visit the official program website or your local Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter. If this mentor program is not for you than hunt down another through your local school system.

If you have an organization you’d like to support please visit Babylune to learn more about The Generous December Group Writing Project.