Mentoring is a one-to-one relationship over a prolonged period of time between a youth and an older person who provides consistent support, guidance and concrete help as the younger person goes through a difficult or challenging situation or period in life. The goal of mentoring is to help the mentees gain the skills and confidence to be responsible for their own futures including, and with an increasing emphasis on, academic and occupational skills.

Mentoring is an act of community-building. It requires believing in and caring about young people—their futures and ours. It is the process of sharing personal knowledge and skills with a young person.

AAYCC will partner with established organizations to provide its participants with guidance using wise and trusted counselors and teachers.  Our program’s mentors will understand that mentoring is a multifaceted job in which they will serve as advisor, listener, confidante and in some instances, a friend. Young people want their parents and/or other adults as the first source of advice for troubling personal problems and AAYCC’s mentors will be well trained to encourage mentees to use their strengths, follow dreams, and accept challenges.