Steve and his mentee, Paarth, have been matched for over two years. Through their fun and learning adventures, they have formed a deep friendship. Both have had a ton of fun, but also have discovered a lot about one another.
Recently, Armando Ramirez, our Mid-Columbia Basin (WA) Director sat down with Paarth’s mother, Puja, to hear her perspective on how her son has been impacted by FORGE.
“When I learned about FORGE Youth Mentoring, I had just come to the United States from India. With my two kids, my 16-year-old daughter and my 9-year-old son, Paarth.
Paarth was having a hard time at school because he did not fully speak English and the other kids were making fun of him. He was having a hard time making friends and was even being bullied. He was facing some challenges while adjusting to the new environment, including cultural differences, language barriers, and social isolation.”
Puja heard about FORGE from a school counselor and gave us a call. The next day they completed the application and interview and within a couple of weeks met Steve, Paarth’s new mentor. From that point, they have met almost every week.
“I’m so thankful because my son is a great young man and through FORGE he is very confident and a great athlete. Steve has helped him to overcome his challenges and has taught my son things that I will never be able to – like how to change the oil on a car, how to change a tire, and how to shave. Steve has encouraged him to do good at school and has helped him to build strong self-confidence, as well as develop many new skills, leadership qualities, and interests. With his help, Paarth has adapted to a new culture, grown independence, and gained a sense of belonging.”
She went on to share how it has also been a great experience for her as well. “I have also become good friends with Steve and his wife Leann and I feel like they are part of our family now. I am so thankful to have them in our lives.”
Parents often see things that we cannot, so for Puja to share the amount of joy she and her son have found through their FORGE mentor is truly special to us. But even greater, we love when people take action because of what they see and hear through our work.
Puja said, “I want to become a mentor myself very soon because I have seen the power of mentoring first-hand, with my son, to help young people overcome challenges!”
What about YOU? What is your next step? 🪜
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