FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2017 7 our years ago, Becky Lawlor and Hailey Divitaris met through Big Brothers Big Sisters North Durham and they have been the best of friends ever since. It was a perfect match! They really look forward to their weekly visits. Little Sister Hailey, who will be 13-years-old in October, is an only child who lives with her dad. Big Sister Becky fills the gap by providing an older sister role model for her. Age 26, Becky is the BBBSND Mentoring Coordinator at the Port Perry office. “Even when I was younger, I always thought about being a Big Sister,” Becky commented. It was af- ter she started working for the agency in 2013 that she made the decision to be a mentor. “When Hailey’s paperwork came in,” Becky knew that she had found an ideal Little Sister. The twosome is very compatible. At a young age, Hailey was diag- nosed with diabetes and celiac dis- ease. Becky understands her medical conditions so they are very careful about where they go out to eat togeth- er. Boston Pizza is a safe and popular choice. Sometimes they get ice-cream and go and sit down in the beautiful park overlooking lake Scugog, and just chat. As friends do. When Hailey was younger, their time together was more activity oriented: Board games, card games, skipping rope and basketball. Now that their friendship has blossomed and Hailey is older, it’s all about conversation. “Over the years, we’ve come to know each other on a deeper level,” Becky said. “I really enjoy mentoring Hailey. We’ve built a good connec- tion. She’s a great girl and she’s given me a new perspective on things.” “I can talk to her about anything,” Hailey said, adding that her relation- ship with Becky is “very important” to her. They talk about school, life, future goals and dreams. Hailey as- pires to be a lawyer or a professional photographer, and also a Big Sister. A resident of Greenbank, Hailey hashadafewtransitionstogothrough since she met Becky, who supported A Perfect Match: Hailey & Becky of North Durham Region of North Durham Region of North Durham Region September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month The BBBS flag will be flying high at the Scugog Township office the first two weeks of September. Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham in Scugog and Uxbridge will offer an exciting new program, geared to benefit children with mild and moderate learning dis- abilities, in the fall of 2017. Mentoring Coordinator Becky Lawlor announced that Program Manager Cheryl Doyle was developing the Connect 3 after school program for children aged nine to 12. Ten sessions will be held for two hours each week. Connect 3 will offer a holistic approach to improv- ing the well-being of children by strengthening their emotional and social skill development. There will be group activities, plus each student will participate in a Mini Match, with one mentor to three mentees. The goal is for mentees to increase their social skills, confidence and self -esteem, Becky noted. “We are looking forward to seeing the kids working together, enjoying time in the program, and building relationships with other students and the mentors,” she commented. Parents will meet at the same time, but separately from the children, to learn and practice strategies for tackling family problems, promoting cooperation and communication, emotional regulation and skill development. There will be takeaways and “homework” for fami- lies to do together. WhileBBBSNDstaffandsomeCollegeandUniversity students will form part of the mentoring team, volun- teers from the community are also being sought to help with Connect 3. An evaluation specialist will survey participants and collect data. Connect 3 is being made possible thanks to a Trillium grant. CONNECT 3 ...................... Please turn to page 8 For more information or to offer your skills as a mentor, contact BBBSND at 905-985-3733. of North D of North D of North D