By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

GOVERNOR Felix P. Camacho yesterday recognized the island’s youth mentors as he proclaimed the month of February as “Guam Mentoring Awareness and Appreciation Month.”
Mentors are people who give caring adult support during crucial times in children’s lives. Without mentoring, vulnerable children may be ill equipped to develop their skills and knowledge to become important contributors to society.
On Guam, the foremost mentoring group is the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, which held an annual appreciation luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Guam yesterday afternoon to honor the group’s mentors, sponsors and community partners.
The organization is affiliated with the Big Brothers Big Sisters group in the mainland, which is the oldest and largest mentoring program in the world.
The BBBS organization, which has grown internationally since 1904, has country-specific programs that recruit, train and supervise volunteers in one-to-one mentoring relationships with children at risk of not reaching their potential because of family or environmental constraints or limitations.
According to BBBS, evaluations of its model have proven that an ongoing friendship relationship with a young person has significant impact.
These evaluations indicate that children’s lives are being enriched and strengthened, leading to more positive and constructive behavior with regard to education, peer relationships, family relationships, use of drugs and alcohol, and acts of violence.
The governor agrees with this view, saying that the volunteer mentors from the BBBS Guam organization provide the island’s youth with guidance and encouragement that improve their self-confidence and help them to mature.
“With as little as one hour per week, mentors can help make a difference in a child’s life,” Camacho said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guam provides quality volunteer and mentoring services for at-risk youth by helping them achieve their highest potential.
Father Duenas Memorial School, Bank of Guam, Citibank Guam, and Bank of Hawaii are among the principal partners of the organization.
These partners provide volunteer members at these designated locations: Andersen Middle School, Benavente Middle School, Agueda Johnston Middle School, L.P. Untalan Middle School, Carbullido Elementary School, Price Elementary School, Tamuning Elementary School, Ordot/Chalan Pago Elementary School, Marcial Sablan Elementary School, Chief Brodie Elementary School, Island Girl Power Clubhouse, and Mangilao Community Center.