Mentoring

Project Friendship & Jr. Project Friendship

The Project Friendship mentoring programs at Family & Children’s Agency have been providing one-on-one mentoring services to children of the Greater Norwalk area for nearly 40 years.

Through the Project Friendship programs, countless children have made lasting friendships while enjoying fun, safe activities with supportive adults or teens.  “Big Friends” and “Little Friends” get together each week and do what friends do: talk, go to the park, play sports, see a movie, bake cookies, etc.

Such mentoring relationships have been proven to have many long-term benefits, including improved self-esteem and school performance, reduced incidents of crime, premature parenting and substance abuse, and greater expectations for one’s future.

Project Friendship (est. 1974) & Jr. Project Friendship (est. 1984) are both community-based mentoring programs for children.  The difference between the two programs is the age of the Big Friend with Project Friendship providing adult mentors and Jr. Project Friendship providing teen mentors, who are high school juniors and seniors, to children between the ages of 8-12.

Read an article about one of our Project Friendship matches.

Watch a video about one of our Jr. Project Friendship matches.

Watch a New Canaan High School interview with one of our Jr. Project Friendship mentors.

Who can participate?

Children from the Greater Norwalk area (including Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, and Wilton) between the ages of 8 and 12 who would benefit from a positive mentoring relationship. Preference is given to children who are from single-parent, low-income homes, and who have identified social service needs.

When

Big Friends (mentors) and Little Friends (mentees) meet weekly for two to three hours throughout the year during non-school hours.

Cost

There is no fee to participants: however, some activities chosen by the Big and Little Friend may incur a cost.

Program Goal

To provide youth and their families who are facing adversity with professionally supported mentoring relationships as a means to help all parties gain new life skills, develop a stronger character, and be exposed to new opportunities and people.

What does it take to become a mentor?

• To become a mentor for Project Friendship, you mus be 18 years old with a clean criminal, child abuse, and driving record check. 
• To become a mentor for Jr. Project Friendship, you must be a Junior or Senior in High School who has a drivers license and transportation. 
• Complete the application and go through an in depth interview and orientation process.
• Most importantly, commit to making a difference in the life of a “Little Friend” by being consistent, patient, and supportive.

Learn about Volunteering at Family & Children’s Agency.

For More Information

For more information on our Mentoring program or to obtain an application, contact Anne Schneider, Coordinator of Mentoring Services at  (203) 523-5776 or aschneider@fcagency.org.