You Don't Have to Fix the Whole World. Just Show Up In Your Corner Of It.
Over 80 youth in Grey Bruce are waiting for mentors—including 25 boys in Owen Sound. Learn how small, local actions like mentoring can create real change.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
There’s a lot of talk right now about how we raise youth, and specifically boys, in mainstream media. Adolescence was the most-watched show on Netflix recently. It’s a gripping and gritty fictional exploration of the fallout of a teen homicide in the UK, layered with commentary about social media, deeply ingrained misogyny, and youth culture today.
Many toxic individuals (such as the Tate brothers) are speaking to boys and young men online, talking about Red Pills and misleading ideas about masculinity that promote male dominance. It’s pretty scary stuff.
But, like all the macro-crises that plague us today, there are micro, local, tangible things you and I can do in Owen Sound.
Right now, there are 25 boys in Owen Sound on the waiting list for a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters Grey Bruce (BBBSGB) and 82 youth overall in Grey Bruce. Firstly, huge credit to those kids for having the self-awareness to raise their hand and say, ‘Hey, yes, a mentor would be good for me. ’
I don’t think I would’ve had that kind of self-awareness when I was 13. Also, credit to those parents who are prioritizing their kids by seeing value in a mentorship program.
Some of the youth in the program are facing significant barriers, while others aren’t. But everyone in their youth could use a mentor. It takes a village, as they say.
Youth with a mentor are 92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities, 75% more likely to have held a leadership position in a club or sports team, and 22% more likely to have experienced a strong sense of belonging while growing up.
Adults who were mentored as youth report long-lasting impact; 74% of those who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life, 69% of young adults say that this key relationship has helped them with issues related to their education, and 58% say their mentor has supported their mental health.
Personally, I’ve been volunteering as a Big Brother since I moved here 3 years ago. I don’t really see it as volunteering anymore, in the sense that I’m ‘giving something up.’ My Little and I have found common interests (chess, music, sports, board games), and we enjoy hanging out. We’ve woven each other into our lives and community and I think we’re both richer for it.
It’s possible that mentoring isn’t for you, or you don’t have the capacity to take that role on. But whatever large social issue is weighing heavily on you, it’s guaranteed that the issue is being felt acutely by people within our community right here, and that you can help.
Feeling helpless after reading that 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from food insecurity? There are organisations like OSHaRE and Food not Bombs trying to address that right here, and they’d love your support.
Reading about vulnerable or lonely seniors not getting adequate support and social connection? You could become a Friendly Visitor with HCSS.
Does climate change feel overwhelming? Reach out to the Grey Bruce Climate Action Network.
You don’t need to fix the whole world. Just show up for your corner of it. Mentoring, sharing a meal, checking in on a neighbour… it all matters. These small, consistent acts of care build the kind of community where people feel seen, supported, and safe.
So, if you’re wondering what can I do? Start small. Start local. Start now.
For a full list of volunteer opportunities in Grey Bruce, check out the Volunteer Database Menu.
Thank you to sponsors of The Owen Sound Current Writers’ Fund, who make these community contributions possible. Contributions from the community do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
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