In March of 1993 Fayette County began a volunteer mentoring program in Fayette County Schools. FRIENDS Fayette Residents Involved in Esteem Building, Nurturing and Developing Successful students matches students who want or need a mentor with an adult volunteer who has been approved and trained through the community school system.

The goal is to respond to students who might need additional support, character building, and self-esteem and/or academic help.

The Friends program subscribes to the adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure." They consider a key factor to helping youth is to respond before a student enters the juvenile system, attempts suicide, becomes pregnant, drops out of school, or is in treatment for substance abuse.

Mentors typically meet with their protege one hour a week in the school setting. A mentor can be a young college/career person, a retired senior, or any age in between. All it takes is a little time and a sincere desire to help. A mentor encourages, listens, gives advice, advocates, acts as a role model, shares information and experience.

Through the mentoring program and others like it, thousands of students throughout Georgia have received the individual help and attention vitally needed to find success. Benefits to the students, parents, teachers and community have been called "immeasurable."

For more information on the mentoring program or to find out how companies can help with grants, contact the Fayette Community School office at 770-460-3547.

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