Perth County – The Perth District Health Unit is recruiting adult male volunteers for the fall sessions of its Elements program. Elements is a unique, school-based program for grade 7 and 8 boys. This fall it will be offered at the following schools:
Stratford Central, from late September to early November
St. Marys DCVI, from mid-November to mid-December
The Elements program runs in the schools one lunch hour a week for six weeks. The program is based on a mentorship model. Volunteers lead activities with small groups of male youth while also sharing their own life experiences and career choices.
Evaluations conducted of the program show that the youth who participate in Elements respond very positively to the program. On feedback forms, the young men have said that they learned about: “The value of kindness; that I can be anything I want to be; not to be a bully or live in the past if you’ve made a mistake; to think about the future.”
Volunteers receive orientation and training by a Public Health Nurse who is also available at every session to offer guidance and support.
Elements is operated by the Perth District Health Unit with additional financial support from Stratford’s On Stage Dance Studio.
Men who are interested in volunteering are asked to call the Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Donna Bentz, at 519-271-7600 ext. 305 or toll free at 1-877-271-7348 ext. 305.