By TRINA HOY
Community Development Director, Kosciusko County Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters in Kosciusko County has created an Around the World Nights series. The series was created as an educational tool to help volunteers connect better with their Littles, and also to give them some experience with other cultures. Each month through 2015 a different culture will be featured in the series.

The first stop on the journey was Africa, and 19 community-based Littles along with their Bigs attended this event to learn about Africa. Each of the kids got a stamped passport that they filled out. Jim Hocking, of Water for Good, an organization that drills wells in Africa presented about Africa and brought some artifacts the kids could look at and touch.

Each child made a craft, experienced an African native food, learned a native dance, and took home a MudLove bracelet. It was an educational evening filled with fun, friendship, and laughter.

March will feature the Middle East.

There are many opportunities for community-based volunteers to provide experiences for their Littles in the community. This series is just one of them. Throughout the county there are many partners who give free or discounted goods or services to help kids in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Our passion is to help at risk children achieve positive measurable outcomes through one-to-one mentoring. A mentor’s guidance and friendship can inspire educational success, improved self-
esteem, and better relationships.

Do you want to become a big brother or big sister in Kosciusko County? Contact (574) 551-6386 or email [email protected]. You can also enroll online at, www.BBBSNEI.org.