Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Hay River (Oct 08/01) - Angela Jacobs is looking for a few good men.

She is a community mobilization worker who is coordinating a new mentorship program in Hay River that kicked-off at the end of September.

The program teams adults with children who could use the company of a role model, a parental figure or just a pal to share time with.

There are 10 youth currently registered and 16 mentors, but Jacobs said they are looking for more male mentors.

"A lot of females volunteered but unfortunately, not enough males," she said.

The program is open to boys and girls aged four-to 12-years-old and men and women over 18.

She says the needs and interests of the individuals are quite varied. Some youth are growing up in a single parent environment, or foster home and others are being raise by grandparents.

"They say, 'We love our grandchildren, but we just don't have the energy they do,'" Jacobs said.

"It depends on the situation, but single dads might want their daughters to just have someone their daughter can hang out with and do the 'girl thing.'

"Everybody's got a gift that they can share with somebody."

Mentors are interviewed, screened and matched with a child who may share similar interests. She says that although the groups' activities and interests vary greatly, there is a common thread -- sharing time seems the most important factor.

"Even something as simple as going grocery shopping or going for ice cream," she said. "It doesn't always have to be some big event."

Jacobs says the beauty of this program is that they don't need a facility to have regular meetings. When they do have get-togethers, they have been offered use of the hall on the Xatl'odeeche Reserve, the Youth Centre and the Hay River Centennial Library.

"Hopefully, the program will gain a life of it's own and evolve into something that doesn't necessarily need someone to watch over it," she said.

The mentors, the youth and their families will all meet for a get-acquainted tea at the end of the month to see how everyone is doing.

The program is funded through the national crime prevention program and the Hay River Family Support Centre.