Perth County – Volunteers make it happen! For over a decade, the Teen Esteem and Elements programs have been making a positive difference in the lives of youth in Perth County.
The Perth District Health Unit is looking for adult male volunteers (for the Elements program) and adult female volunteers (for the Teen Esteem program). The programs will be offered during the 2018-2019 school year at schools in the following areas:
North Perth
Milverton (Teen Esteem only)
Mitchell
Stratford
Shakespeare
Sebringville (Teen Esteem only).
The Teen Esteem and Elements programs are based on a mentorship model. The programs run in the schools one lunch hour a week for six weeks and are offered to students in Grades 5 and 6. Volunteers facilitate activities with small groups of students while also sharing their own life experiences.
“We hope that people who enjoy working with youth will consider volunteering,” says Courtney MacIntosh, Public Health Nurse. “The feedback we receive from our volunteers is that it’s a fun and innovative way to connect with youth. It’s an opportunity to contribute to the community and empower youth to make healthy life choices.”
Julia Merritt, a Teen Esteem volunteer since 2017, says: “I was so impressed with the self-awareness of the students I met this year, and it has been a privilege to help walk them through some situations that they will likely face at some point in their lives.”
David Dalby recently joined the Elements program and says, “I’d like to think that the conversations we had could help the boys with their future decision making. I think encouraging boys to talk about how they are feeling is important. When they see peers opening up to each other and sharing it helps everyone feel comfortable, which is an amazing feeling.”
Teen Esteem and Elements are operated by the Perth District Health Unit with financial support from Stratford’s Zonta Club and On Stage Dance Studio.
If you are interested in this short-term volunteer opportunity, call the Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Donna Bentz, at 519-271-7600 extension 305 or toll free at 1-877-271-7348 extension 305 or email at: [email protected].