“Mankind owes to the child the best it has to give. These words from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child resonate with the vision at BBBSI. Undaunted by the fact that there are 2.2 billion children around the world, with more than half living in poverty, we focus on improving the life of one child at a time. The child we serve faces any of a long list of challenges: poverty, illness, migration to a new country, the death or incarceration of a parent, among many others. The situations may vary, but the child’s response to someone who wants to share time together is universal: being valued changes a child’s sense of self-worth.

Having a mentor adds another champion in the vulnerable child’s life: someone outside the family who offers an exclusive relationship to the child. Together a mentor and child share many different activities, but the underlying significance is the enjoyment of just being together. The relationship supports the determination, resourcefulness, and tenacity of the child. It encourages the child to have higher hopes for the future and to believe it is possible to reach them after all.

We know from research that having a caring adult in the life of a child can change a child’s future. Studies on Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs show that children with mentors avoid risky behaviors, are more involved in school, develop better relationships, avoid violence, and are more successful as adults. Repeated studies confirm these outcomes and heighten our commitment to bring the highest quality of mentoring into the lives of children.

Together with Affiliate organizations, volunteers, and partners around the globe who share our vision, BBBSI accepts the challenge to deliver the best we have to give to make it possible for more children around the world to have a mentor and reach their potential. What begins with one child can make a real difference. Many children reaching their potential in a school, a neighborhood, a community can create the momentum for change that ultimately impacts the global community we all share.

This is our commitment to children. This is our hope for the future.

Katherine (Kitty) Balsley