Tutor-Mentor Program

Goals / Purpose of Program

This program is no longer active due to the inavailability of funding. 

Information below is provided for those who are interested in learning from and/or developing such a program. 

The Aboriginal Tutor-Mentor Program operated from December 2003 - December 2008 to enhance the work of the original First Nations School Success Project (also no longer available due to a lack of funding). 

The goal of this program was to support Aboriginal students at both the public school and post-secondary levels. 

Each year, we established partnerships with elementary schools, secondary schools and community organizations to provide one-to-one academic and social support to Aboriginal students from kindergarten to grade 12 through tutoring sessions and community-based educational workshops.

We recruited and trained 10-20 Aboriginal post-secondary students as part-time Tutor-Mentors.  The Aboriginal post-secondary studetnts provided one-to-one tutoring and mentoring sessions to students from kindergarten to grade twelve.  Tutor-Mentors gained meaningful employment and training experience while working part-time to support a maximum of five students. They provided much-needed support as Tutors o help Aboriginal youth do better in school. They also acted as Mentors by being positive role models for both school achievement and providing positive interaction with adults.

We also encouraged the involvement of parents and guardians to help Aboriginal students gain more support for their educational goals and to encourage positive support and interaction between youth and their parents/guardians.
 

Program Activities

• Students received one-to-one tutoring and/or the Tutor-Mentor assisted students during class time.  Each Tutor-Mentor worked with a maximum of five Aboriginal students.
• Some field trips were offered for students accessing the program throughout the school year
• We encouraged parental/guardian involvement to help Aboriginal students gain more support for their educational goals and to encourage positive support and interaction between youth and their parents/guardians
• Workshops such as Help Your Child Achieve Educational Success and Parents in Education were offered to help support and provide Aboriginal parents/guardians with opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills to support the educational needs of their children
  
  

How Youth Could Become Involved

Students could self-refer, or they could be referred by family, relatives, friends, UNYA programs, community organizations, or Vancouver School Board staff such as Principals, Vice-Principals, Teachers, Counsellors, Youth and Family Workers, and First Nations School Support Workers.

The Tutor-Mentor Program was offered at no cost for the partnering schools or to parents.  Our Coordinator was based out of UNYA’s main office, while tutoring sessions primarily took place at the student’s school.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are no volunteer opportunities for this program.

Donations needed

If you are aware of a sustainable funding source to support this program, please contact us. 

Program Funders

How to contact us:

1618 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5L 1S6
Phone: 604-254-7732
Fax:    604-254-7811