Youth Mentors Change Lives.
You can make a real difference.
When you become a YAY youth mentor, you do more than volunteer. You become an important role model in a young person’s life while gaining valuable leadership abilities, relevant skills and access to support and opportunities that can help you achieve your academic, professional and personal goals.
Ready to become a mentor?
Do you live in Toronto or York Region?
Are you between the ages of 16 and 29?
Can you give 10 hours a month for 1 year?
Yes? Become a YAY youth mentor.
"Youth Assisting Youth connects volunteers to meaningful peer mentorship experiences that harness the power of friendship to make a lasting impact.”
- In-depth training and resources
- Leadership & career-building benefits
- Scholarship and networking opportunities
- Free activities for you and your mentee
- 24-hour emergency support
Who are the youth you will mentor?
YAY matches driven volunteer youth mentors with younger youth ages 6 to 15 in Toronto and York Region in one-to-one peer mentoring relationships.
A caring mentor can make a real difference. The youth you will support are in your local community and need guidance, encouragement and a consistent positive role model. You do not need to be a superhero. You just need to be there. YAY provides in-depth training, ongoing monitoring, access to weekly activities and 24/7 emergency support to help you both grow and succeed.
Mentor time commitment
We ask youth mentors to dedicate 10 hours each month for at least 1 year to support their mentee on a weekly basis, both in-person and virtually.
Youth volunteers must complete our screening process before being matched with a mentee. This includes a brief interview, reference check and vulnerable sector screening. We also ask volunteers to commit 5 hours to complete mandatory virtual training. Our screening and training process is critical for success, providing a solid foundation for a meaningful volunteer experience, strong mentoring relationship and powerful dual impact for you and your mentee.
Training & support
Being a community-based youth mentor is not a typical volunteer role, and we’re committed to providing the resources, training and support that youth volunteers deserve and need to be successful mentors and leaders.
Our in-depth training helps youth volunteers build the knowledge, skills and awareness needed to be great mentors and have a real impact. Training modules include Mentoring 101, Youth Mental Health and Youth Learning Disabilities. Youth mentors also receive ongoing monitoring, resources, guidance and 24/7 access to emergency support.
We also provide tons of free activities, events and programs that help mentors and mentees connect, share experiences and grow together in the community. Youth mentors also have access to scholarship opportunities, skills-building training and networking opportunities.
Ready to make a real difference?
Become a YAY youth mentor! Change a young person’s life. Change your life. Change the future! Change the world!
“We have both learned from each other! Plus, I was paired with a kid in my neighbourhood. That hit home, there is a kid in need and he literally lives right down the street from me.”
Jim H. // Mentor
