Students in three area high schools soon will launch a mentor program that its organizer hopes will foster new friendships between students with and without special needs.
“Best Buddies” is a national, charitable organization that’s well-established throughout the country, with student-run chapters in secondary schools, and on university and college campuses.
It recently was spearheaded at Fort Frances High School, Atikokan High School, and Rainy River High School by Faith Moen, communications and public relations co-ordinator with the Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living.
Moen wanted to raise awareness about the importance of friendships between all groups of students, as well as the role models and leadership skills benefits such a program can inspire.
In no time flat, she had volunteers from non-special needs students at all three high schools.
“I had no trouble recruiting non-special needs students,” Moen said during a recent interview. “I knew they would take this opportunity [to heart]—it takes a certain kind of person to do this.
“I would like to see more integration with the rest of the [student body]. That’s important, I think,” she added.
So far, Moen has recruited about a half-dozen students from each school who will be matched up with special-needs students who also attend high school, or those who are coming up from Grades 7 and 9.
“Going into Grades 7 and 8 [with ‘Best Buddies’] would be a nice transition for special education students,” she reasoned.
Moen stressed each non-special needs student who volunteers to be part of the “Best Buddies” program must pass a criminal record check and submit personal references before being approved for participation.
Once matched up, “Best Buddies” will talk on the phone/e-mail weekly, participate in activities outside of school hours, such as taking in a sports game in their community, or going out for coffee.
“Best Buddies” chapters in each community will operate as a organization and appoint a chapter president, peer buddies (non-special needs students), buddies (student with intellectual disability), associate members (student not matched but who participates in meetings and fundraisers), and a buddy director (student who serves as a leader and representative of the students with intellectual disabilities).
Jennelle Lowes, a teacher at Rainy River High School, lauded the “Best Buddies” program and the potential it presents for long-lasting friendships between students.
“We have had a wonderful response for the size of our school [of 125 students],” Lowes said Monday. “Our idea is to promote healthy relationships, healthy friendships.
“I’m trying not to play a big role because I want to promote our senior students to take leadership roles in this,” she added. “I’m here for them to bump ideas off of and to be a contact between the elementary and high school level.”
Moen is hoping to organize a “Meet and Greet” event for each of the three communities sometime in mid-February, where parents and students can meet and pairs of “Best Buddies” will be introduced to each other.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
