A deeper look at mentorship through SOS

“The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” - Muhammad Ali

Most of us have heard of Muhammad Ali and know bits and pieces about his career. But did you know that his legacy is the inspiration behind International Mentoring Day? Ali lived by six core principles that we can all incorporate into our lives, both as mentors, mentees and community members. 

Confidence

One of the main reasons youth engage with us at SOS for mentoring is because of a lack of confidence. They are struggling to find their footing and need a consistent, strong support system that can help them find their way forward both personally and on their career path. They need confidence and a mentor can deliver that. In fact, we know that more than one third of mentees in Canada say their mentor shaped their career aspirations.

Conviction

A big piece of the SOS mentoring program is around empowering young individuals to be confident and strong in their beliefs, and steadfast in their self-worth. We know they matter and we want them to build the conviction inside to feel it themselves. 

Dedication

Mentorship isn’t a quick fix or a short-term relationship. It’s a commitment, where the mentor and mentee are dedicated to the process for an extensive amount of time. Our mentors build relationships and trust by meeting with mentees weekly, often up to a whole year. Through these meetings, they participate in activities that focus on self-esteem, communication skills and coping skills. 

Respect

“Mentoring isn’t a one way street, it’s a two way street. The two individuals are committed to showing up, connecting with one another and learning from one another.” For Julie Penney, Child and Youth Manager at SOS, the mentoring process has been just as impactful for her as her young mentees. Through that mutual respect and trust, it becomes a powerful relationship that leaves a lasting impact. 

Giving

You can look at mentorship as a way to give back to the community, but there’s a smaller, often more impactful gift built into the process. For Janelle Watton, SOS Community Outreach Worker, it’s the moments of silence, and the smaller moments in the mentorship process that resonate with her. 

“Recognizing that those smaller moments — when we have those genuine conversations — build up to those bigger, more impactful moments we get to have with you.”

Spirituality

Spirituality can mean different things to different people. At the core of it, is being at peace with yourself and finding your way forward to give back to the community. Whether it’s opening yourself up to the process of being a mentee, or choosing to be a mentor yourself, there is an opportunity to find a deeper connection with your community and yourself at the same time. 

To learn more about mentorship at SOS or to refer your child or youth to the program, please reach out to Julie, our Child and Youth Manager.