The A2Z Mentoring Program, founded in 2004 to build bridges in multicultural and diverse communities with volunteers, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. The program, launched with the help of Children and Family services, began with five mentors and four students. Out of 72 mentors, 57 are students of West Windsor-Plainsboro middle and high Schools.
The organization’s annual event was held on June 6 at the First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck. Students, mentors, supervisors, and parents were invited to join the celebrations ceremony to recognize the 72 volunteers and 11 supervisors who were awarded certificates for their hard work and dedication. Guest speakers included West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, West Windsor Council Member Linda Geevers and Council Member-Elect Kamal Khanna.
“All the guest speakers have encouraged the young volunteers to continue to give back to the community by sharing the gift of knowledge and in bringing the community children closer and preserving the great diversity,” says Mira Desai, the founder and director of the program. “The mentors, who coach the children on a one-on-one basis during the school year, develop a community spirit and a sense of giving.”
The summer mentoring session runs July 16 to August 22 on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings at East Windsor Library. The fall program begins September 14. A2Z will hold an open house on Sunday, September 13. Interested teens and adults are invited to call 609-213-8674 or E-mail a2z_program@yahoo.com for more information.
