“It really provides a safe outlet. ”
– Kendra
Empowering Youth Through Mentorship
Kendra has been a Big Sister for four years. Inspired by her father’s friend who served as a Big Brother for decades, Kendra knew from a young age that she wanted to make a similar impact. She waited until she felt ready to take on the role, and at age 25, she officially became a Big Sister to her
9-year-old “Little Sister”.
Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, a mentorship charity and Youth+Us partner, focuses on a powerful mission; to enable transformational mentoring relationships that ignite the power and potential of girls and gender-diverse youth.
Building a Strong Connection
When Kendra first met her Little Sister, she was very guarded, slow to open up, and hesitant to trust others. However, with time, patience, and a genuine commitment to being there, Kendra gradually was able to make a strong connection with her Little.
“My little sister was very, very guarded when I met her,” shares Kendra. “But I remember, after about a year or so, she got to this point where we’d be driving in the car and she’d just start talking and sharing what was going on in her life. We broke down that barrier a little bit and it was really nice to see that she was starting to trust me and let me in.”
Throughout their time together, Kendra and her Little Sister bonded over many shared interests: they baked cookies, did arts and crafts, went for bike rides, and took long walks through the park.
We both love Christmas, so we always got very into that by doing Christmas crafts and watching Christmas movies. We were a very well-suited match.
-Kendra
Of course, Kendra learnt many things from her Little as well, including how to navigate the world of TikTok.
Creating safe spaces
Kendra has learned a lot from being a mentor. She says her biggest takeaway has been learning the importance of building a trusting relationship, especially when working with vulnerable kids.
“They have so many reasons not to trust you and not to believe that you’re going to be there for them. So allowing them the time that they need to open up and not forcing it was really emphasized to me.”
She’s also learned firsthand about the value of mentorship, as mentors can provide a unique type of support.
“Kids often feel more comfortable opening up to you and asking for guidance on things that they might not be as comfortable talking to their parents about,” shares Kendra.
It really provides a safe outlet. They can vent about things and ask questions without thinking they’re going to be punished
or judged.-Kendra
Looking Forward
Kendra’s experience as a Big Sister has not only enriched her Little Sister’s life but has also prepared her for her career as a social worker, specializing in child welfare.
“It’s really helped me prepare for my future. It’s built on all those foundations of learning how to
successfully work with youth because they can be a challenging age group. I just feel like it’s really helped set me up for success.”
Reflecting on her time as a mentor, Kendra acknowledges the challenges that can arise in building these relationships. There are often moments when a mentor’s efforts may feel unrecognized, and progress can be slow. Yet, she believes that it’s worth the effort.
One of her most cherished memories came during their first Christmas together. Her Little Sister, who was typically reserved, made handmade gifts for Kendra—a small but meaningful gesture that affirmed the connection they had built and would continue to build.
