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Big Brothers Big Sisters pilot for Co-op

  • People
  • People & Community
1 Jun 2023 1 min read

Farmers in Taranaki are being asked to consider signing up for a pilot initiative by the Co-op to partner with charitable organisation Big Brothers Big Sisters, helping to mentor youth in their area.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is a charitable organisation run around the world and has a New Zealand chapter who provide mentors for youth. The Co-op has already seen positive responses from a few farmers who have signed up on their own accord and realised the difference they can create with their donation of time.

BBBS believes potential lives within every young person. BBBS mentors help form strong positive relationships that express care, challenge growth, share power, and expand possibilities as well as help ignite youth potential.

It is hoped the pilot programme in Taranaki will lead to a national initiative, says Agri-Graduate and Farm Source marketing team intern Connie O'Brien.

"We are looking to see if we can create a really special partnership here with BBBS and take that to a national level. We have heard so many great things from some of our farmers who are already Big Brothers or Big Sisters and they say that what started as a way to help others has in turn helped them with their own mental health."


"When you commit to a time and day to meet up with the child and spend some quality time, you have to make that happen, you don't want to let them down. For a farmer to step away from the farm, it gives them a mental refresher too."

Some of the kids we have spoken to have said how they really enjoy having a role model by their side, and also having a mentor is the " best thing that has happened to me" and how they love spending time with their Big Sister or Big Brother.

"It's rewarding, and can positively change the life of a child who needs a mentor or role model in their life," Connie says.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, check out bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz.

Big Brother and Farmer - Adam Pearce:

I thought I was going to spend time with my little for his gain and get him going again in terms of life, what I didn't expect was the mental health side for me. The hour off farm and the clarity it gives me for my business was great because often when you're bogged down in your business you don't look at it from the outside. It encourages me to take more breaks and it has changed my mindset from being solely on-farm.

 

Big Brother and Farmer - David Dent:

Both my wife's and my littles have been community-based. We used to pick my wife's little up on Friday's from school and bring her back to the farm. We would sit down and have a proper meal, this was new to her. With my current little, we do fun activities and play lots of rugby. I coached his team and we loved going into New Plymouth to watch their team play. I bring him back to the farm and take him milking and teach him all sorts of farm things.
BBBS means we can show our littles a different track, a different life and not force it upon them. Just show them these other options. The young kids see that relationships don't just happen, you have to put in work for it to happen. We have showed them the way we do things and showed them a different pathway.