Overcoming Educational Barriers Through Mentorship
Youth today are filled with big dreams and hope for a better world. However, with the significant barriers standing in their way, it is difficult for a large portion of students to receive the academic support they deserve.
Among them are over 300,000 young Canadians in low-income communities who are faced with numerous obstacles that make it more challenging to complete high school (Pathways to Education, n.d.). What’s equally alarming is elementary students are testing below historical trends in reading and math – vital skills that contribute to their academic success and personal development (CBC, 2023).
The question remains how can we support youth in the wake of academic challenges? The answer lies in mentorship – a solution that not only provides youth with a positive influence in their life but also a strong support system that makes it easier for youth to reach their goals and make their dreams a reality.
What Do Educational Barriers Look Like?
Barriers youth face can be broken down into three categories:
- Financial Barriers
Youth that are impacted by financial challenges may be forced to leave school earlier. They could be challenged to pay for food, school supplies or even transportation. Many youth also require additional academic support such as tutoring. However, monthly tutoring costs can range from $120 to $700, an amount that not all families can afford (The Globe and Mail, 2022).
- Social Barriers
Many students do not have access to support systems in terms of caring adults and peers who can inspire and encourage them to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves. Others may be impacted by family responsibilities or have a difficult time integrating into a new learning environment and community when changing schools. Specifically, transitioning from elementary school to middle school or elementary school to high school can be quite challenging for students as they may face social pressure regarding forming new friendships and fitting in with their peer group.
- Academic Barriers
Educational resources are not readily accessible to all youth. For instance, students may not have full access to technology such as laptops to support their academic journey. Regarding family support, it can be difficult for many caregivers to allocate large portions of time to helping youth with homework given work commitments and other family responsibilities. It is also important to consider that many family members may be unable to complete school assignments in English with youth if they are not well-versed in the language.
The Power of Mentorship
Having a caring, supportive mentor can allow students to overcome these barriers and build a stronger belief in themselves and their future.
Showing up for youth is how mentors can make all the difference. This can mean:
- Being available to chat about problems
- Providing guidance on how to make healthy life choices
- Managing difficult social situations at school
- Supporting youth to build their self-confidence
Additionally, spending time completing homework questions with youth or helping them set goals can launch students’ determination to complete their education and pursue their passions. Mentorship has proven to support students in these ways as mentored youth are twice as likely to have completed high school compared to their peers who did not have access to a mentor (Mentor Canada, 2020).
Mentorship can also encourage students to attend post-secondary education as youth who were mentored growing up are 95% more likely to have pursued further education or training after high school compared to youth who did not have access to mentoring (Mentor Canada, 2020).
Supporting Youth through Big Sisters Study Buddy Program
We enable youth to tackle barriers to academic success through the power of mentorship in our Study Buddy program. The program aims to strengthen the self-esteem of girls, non-binary, transgender and gender diverse youth ages 7-17 by matching them with volunteers who offer tutoring support.
Big Sisters Study Buddy program features one-on-one mentoring for youth with a one-hour tutoring session per week. Our Study Buddies have already had a significant impact with 88% of mentees improving their grades.
As one mentee reports, “The best thing about meeting my tutor was having the support and encouragement I needed from someone to do well academically, and in other areas. I really appreciate everything that I learned, and my experience with my tutor contributed to my current success” (Little Sister, Study Buddy Program).
With the support of our generous donors, the Study Buddy program currently serves 136 youth in the Lower Mainland.
We are actively recruiting Study Buddy mentors in Richmond, Surrey (Cloverdale), Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody), and Burnaby who can support elementary or high school students! There is currently a high need for mentors who can support Math and Sciences for grades 8-12! Follow the link to find out more: Become a Study Buddy Mentor
We wish to thank our supporters of the Study Buddy Program including BC Gaming, Prospera Credit Union, Ted Rogers Community Grant, K+S Potash, Amir & Yasmin Virani Family Foundation, City of Vancouver, Corporation of the District of North Vancouver, Corporation of the City of North Vancouver, City of Richmond, and the City of Surrey.
