The Mega Mandate:
- Increase social mobility
- Increase career opportunity
- Reduce the number of NEET’s (School leavers not in education, employment or training)
- Raise aspirations
How we do it:
Providing Inspiration
Children with specific talents/ambitions or interests are matched with a mentor who has been successful in the same field, and who is a positive role model. The young person gets to meet with their mentor three times a year for inspiration, encouragement, advice and opportunities to develop their gifts. Alternatively, if a child is lacking in aspirations they have the opportunity to meet a number of different Mega Mentors to expose them to occupations they may have never considered.
Entry onto the program begins with children at the top end of primary school, who then have the option of staying on the program until they leave secondary school and move into further education, employment or training. The Mega Mentors program aims to prevent rather than cure, and would hope to help reduce the number of young people who leave school without ambition, experience or the ability to achieve their dreams, and therefore reduce the number of NEETs.
Creating Opportunities
In addition to visits to Mega Mentors children will also have the opportunity to be part of the Mini Mega’s program. Mini Mega’s is designed for children who have been involved in Mega Mentors for at least two years. The aim of Mini Mega’s is to offer children more in-depth experience in a specific area that they may be interested in pursuing as a future career. On the Mini Mega’s program children can expect access to short work experience ‘taster’ sessions, which we may be with a Mega Mentor, or a professional within the local community. The idea of Mini Mega’s is to help translate the children’s dreams into something attainable at grass roots level. Mini Mega’s will also provide possible routes for training, apprenticeships or employment opportunities for the future.
Equipping Futures
The Mega Mint Fund will also be available to children after two years on the Mega Mentors program. The fund is designed to enable children to take classes, training or education that their families may not be able to afford, which will help them increase the possibilities of achieving their dreams. In addition to this, the Mega Mint Fund may be able to provide children with smaller items/equipment that may be deemed appropriate.
The fund also provides an opportunity for individual mentors to give financially to their mentees, enabling them to share their material wealth in a safe way with children they have direct contact with.
Having Fun
Children also have access to two group events a year, where they can meet with other children on the program, which are hosted by a Mega Mentor. There is also an annual celebration to celebrate the achievements of the children, which all children, Mentors and sponsors are invited to.