MENTORING SETTINGS

Mentor Relationship

Mentors and young people may find that their relationship begins by participating in a variety of activities. Depending on the type of mentoring program — and the program's rules and regulations — a mentoring pair may go to the park or a museum, participate in sports or some other activity where they can get to know each other better. Mentors and mentees might also meet at the child's school once a week where they might talk, play games or do schoolwork together. Take a look at some of the different settings where mentoring may occur.

Each mentoring program is different. So are the locations and settings within which a mentoring relationship can develop.

In Schools

• Offers young people the chance to develop a relationship with one or more adults
• Takes place at school, either during or after school hours
• Can include tutoring, playing games and sports
• A commitment of at least one school year

In The Community

• Community-based mentoring offers young people the chance to develop a relationship with one or more adults
• Takes place outside of specific sites such as: going to the movies or going to a park.
• Can include tutoring, career exploration, life skills development, playing games, going to sports, entertainment, or cultural events
• A commitment of at least one year

In Faith-Based Communities

• Faith-based mentoring has a long tradition of instilling spiritual values and moral strength, key elements in mentoring
• Offers young people the chance to develop a relationship with one or more adults
• Takes place in a house of worship and reflects the values and beliefs of that religion Typically occurs after school hours and/or on weekends
• Can include career exploration, life skills development, playing games, going to sports, entertainment, or cultural events
• Can serve young people from the congregation or from throughout the local community

In Businesses

• Today more and more companies are starting mentoring programs to help the young people who live in the communities where the companies do business
• Offers young people the chance to develop a relationship with one or more adults
• Can include tutoring, job shadowing, career exploration and role playing
• A commitment of at least one year

E-mentoring

• E-mentoring takes place via the Internet and lets mentors and mentees develop their relationship by exchanging messages online
• Makes mentoring available to mentors and young people who otherwise might not be able to meet easily because of time or travel constraints
• Helps young people learn more about high-tech communications and improve their writing skills
• Offers young people the chance to develop a relationship with one or more adults (Some programs have a group of adults who mentor an entire group of young people. For instance, a group of engineers might advise an entire classroom of students.)
• Offers young people a great way to find out about potential careers
• Enables young people to work with mentors on special projects
• Note: E-mentoring is currently being studied by the DMC and is not available in Delaware. If you are interested in learning more about E-mentoring opportunities throughout the country, please contact us at (302) 831-0520.