Learning a two-way street with mentorship program

When some of the kids from Niji Mahkwa School see Kristyn Boubard walking down the street, they run up to her and say, “There’s my teacher!”

It doesn’t matter to them that Boubard is still in Grade 11 at Children of the Earth High School. She is one of 20 high school students who acted as mentors to 26 kids from neighbouring Niji Mahkwa over an eight-week after-school program.

“I didn’t know what mentoring meant before I signed up,” Boubard said. “But I’m glad I did. It’s been so much fun. The reaction of the kids is awesome.”

The mentoringprogram was launched two years ago as part of a study by Joannie Halas, a professor in the University of Manitoba's faculty of kinesiology and recreation management. Halas wants to find ways to tap into aboriginal cultural in order to promote more physical activity amongst aboriginal young people.

“Not a lot of kids are being active during and after school these days,” she said.

Each week, the high school students led the elementary students in activities in Niji Mahkwa’s gym and schoolyard.

Halas hopes the program’s success will lead some of the mentors into careers in physical education and recreation.

“Some of the high school students may not like phys. ed. but they reclaim their playfulness (during the program). They love to be active with the children,” Halas said.

Boubard said she never realized how tiring a teacher’s work was until she became a mentor.

“I don’t know how a teacher does it,” Boubard said, adding that despite the hard work she would love to be a teacher herself.

Stephanie Midford, the Grade 3 teacher who organizes the program at Niji Mahkwa’s end, said students in grades 2 to 4 are chosen for the program because they don’t participate in after-school sports and activities. The relationships the high school students build with the younger kids are what make the program special, she said.

“They don’t see them as authority figures," she said. “They see them more as a big brother or big sister kind of thing.”

As part of the program, Halas offered a three-credit-hour course to university students who might be interested in pursuing a career in physical education.

Michele Hynes, a third-year kinesiology student, was one of three U of M students who helped facilitate the activities. She said it was difficult to say whether it was the high school or elementary students who benefited more from the program.

“It’s a two-way street,” Hynes said. “The high school students learn leadership skills, and get used to having fun when they play with the younger kids. And the kids get to see role models. There are so many benefits to the course.”

One of Hynes's reasons for taking the course was to see if teaching was a career she might consider.

“I didn’t know out of high school. I was nervous about teaching,” said the member of the U of M women’s basketball team. “This has definitely given me confidence dealing with kids.”

This year, the program received funding from the United Way after receiving some start-up government grants last year. For the program to continue in future years, and possibly at other schools, Midford says more money will be needed.

“Funding is year to year. My biggest dream is to have someone step up and support it.”