“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.”

- Benjamin Disraeli

Welcome to the Community Youth in Action Network.

OUR GOAL:
That all Oakville youth may receive the tools, education and opportunities that will enable them to become healthy holistic individuals, physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

As a CYAN Mentor you are a:

• POSITIVE ROLE MODEL
• FRIEND
• COACH
• ADVISOR
• SELF-ESTEEM BUILDER
• CAREER COUNSELOR
• ADVOCATE

As a mentor you will be a role model to youth. You can help them grow, not just by offering friendship and guidance, but also by sharing new experiences, personally and professionally through everyday activities. The value of having an adult from the community who shows genuine care, concern and affection can not be over-stated. You perform an invaluable role in teaching youth values, responsibility, and most important, how to have FUN.

Many of the youth in our community have faced some very real obstacles in their lives. Being provided adult mentors who listen and spend quality time gives a youth a sense of value and worth, and can foster resiliency so that the a youth can overcome the hardships and adversity, he/she faces daily. As a result, mentoring programs have been key in reducing truancy, bullying, quitting school, delinquency and substance abuse.

Having adult mentors who also know how to work hard to overcome challenges, and who are willing to share knowledge and experience makes a world of difference in the youth’s life. Adults have a primary role in creating opportunities for young people and supporting them in building their competencies as they simultaneously work for change.

Here are some ways in which you can become a mentor.
Share your professional knowledge – be a regular speaker at our Life Skills Sessions. Topics would include but are not limited to:

• Project management
• Financial management
• Career development
• Resume writing
• Communication
• Time management
• Interviewing
• Scholarship applications
• Professional experiences

Share your volunteer experiences – be a regular speaker at our Service Learning Sessions. Come and share information about your community service organization. Discuss ways in which the youth of our community can become engaged.

Become a Community Service Project Partner – come and join our youth and become a project partner. You can assist by:

• Providing materials for special projects
• Providing in-kind donations
• Share your talents, be it musical or artistic

Additional ways to get involved
Become a member of our Business Network
Join one of our Board sub-committees – Governance, Communications and Fundraising or Community Outreach.
Become a CYAN Ambassador

For further information please contact Madeleine Buhlau by using the form below:

*(denotes required field)

First Name: *

Last Name: *

E-Mail Address: *

Home Address *

Home Telephone

Cell *

Email *

Profession *

Do you wish to volunteer in the capacity of a (check all that apply) *

Community Project Partner
Presenter
Ambassador

Provide a little information about yourself in 250 words or less *

Please share your interests *

Please provide the knowledge and/or skill sets you wish to share with youth *

Have you done any other volunteer work? *

Why is becoming a CYAN volunteer of interest to you? *

Additional Comments

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**We thank you for taking the time to fill out our form.  You will be contacted within 5 working days.  All volunteers must provide two references and a criminal reference check before being permitted to volunteer.