How to Become a Big Brother or Big Sister to a Child
The Big Brother or Big Sister Program has changed lives for the better for decades. You can get involved in this rewarding program and contribute to the life of a young boy or girl in a just a few hours each week. The program joins young boys and girls from single parent homes where a male or female influence is missing - with older male or female ‘big brothers or sisters’. As a Big Bro or Sis you will spend two to four hours per week with your ‘little’ brother or sister in a spirit of friendship, guidance and supportive companionship. Exact age groups differ from community to community but the general age is between seven and twelve and you will need to be at least nineteen to sign up. Read on to find out how you can become a Big Brother or Big Sister to a child.
Who Qualifies as a Volunteer?
Anybody can volunteer for the program but in general an applicant should be a caring individual over the age of 19. There is no upper age limit for the Big Brother or Big Sister program.
You don’t need any special skills to join the program and your religion and culture is not important. The one thing you DO need is a strong and passionate commitment to sharing your time with a young child. It helps to be an active and healthy individual so that your time together can be as enjoyable as possible.
What do Big Brothers and Sisters Do?
As a Big Brother or Big Sister, you will be expected to spend about two to four hours each week with your little brother or sister and commit to doing this for a full year.
How Long are ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ Paired For?
On average, a match will last for about two to three years but some ‘Bigs’ stay involved with the child for many years or until the boy or girl turns nineteen.
