to mentor is to touch a life forever
Having access to at least one positive is a major predictor of resilience.
Mentored youth maintain better attitudes toward school.
Mentored youth are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class.
Make an impact
We need mentors to work with our youth!
Mentors must be at least 19 years old, have a valid driver's license and auto insurance, reliable transportation and pass a background check.
Mentor FAQ
We try to make the process quick and easy BUT we do value the safety and comfort of everyone involved. After filling out an application, mentors are interviewed by our Amachi Match Specialist, background checked and go through a reference check. The Match Specialist also interviews our youth mentees and completes matches based on interest, personality and other important factors that will ensure the best environment for a healthy relationship to grow.
They are regular people, just like you. Our mentors are an inclusive group from all walks of life, including diverse ages, ethnicities, genders, religions, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.
Amachi Mentors are required to spend one hour with your mentee each week for at least one year. Mentors should communicate weekly with your mentee’s caregiver and communicate monthly with your mentor match specialist. Mentors are required to pass a background check AND complete a training prior to being matched with a mentee.
That is completely up to you and your mentee (and their family). As a mentor, you are responsible for communicating with the parent or caregiver and making plans. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis.
Keep it simple and enjoyable for both you and your mentee. Find activities you both enjoy or can learn together. Visit the library, play a game, go for a walk at Josephine Sculpture Park, attend a free community event or come hang out at Thorn Hill Education Center.
We don’t want or expect you to, but we realize it may happen sometimes. The quality of time invested with your mentee is more important than the amount of money you spend. We suggest looking for free or low cost activities. Wanda J hosts events for mentors and mentees as often as we can. Occasionally, we receive donated tickets or opportunities and we always offer them to our mentors/mentees first.
No, our youth have a parent or guardian in their life already. What they need is a a trusted adult to spend quality, one-on-one time with them.
We are here to support you through your mentor journey! All mentors complete training. We offer monthly potluck dinners so that our mentors can meet and discuss issues and ask for feedback. We offer a free and safe space at Thorn Hill Education Center for mentors and mentees to hang out. We also have a private Facebook group for our mentors so they can exchange ideas and advice. Most importantly, our Amachi Match Specialist will be in regular contact with you to check in and offer guidance or help.
mentoring youth impacted by incarceration
Amachi is a nationally based program, specifically designed for children of the incarcerated, that originated in Philadelphia, in 2001. Amachi is an African word that means, Who knows but what God has brought us through this child. Amachi of Central Kentucky began in 2004 and is located in Lexington. The program is based on “people of faith (and goodwill) mentoring children of promise.” WJRF offers Amachi of Frankfort.
