Bloomberg LP: Local Mentors, Global Reach
Story originally posted on Bloomberg Now.
January 21, 2015
January is National Mentor Month in the US, celebrating the power of mentoring relationships and its impact on strengthening our communities. With over 750 volunteer mentors and tutors around the world, Bloomberg’s employee network serves their communities year-round, preparing and inspiring a new generation of students focused on technology, literacy, and journalism with a wide variety of nonprofit partners. Employees in the Bloomberg Startup network participate in a number of skills based programs that provide college and career readiness and supporting literacy and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education. Mentoring at Bloomberg means everything from working with budding journalists, coaching kids building a robot, improving reading skills, helping entrepreneurs and school principals develop leadership and business planning skills, or mentoring a returning veteran looking to enter the civilian job market. Every mentor has a story and reason they give back. We asked a few of our star volunteers why they mentor:
“I mentor because South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world and a lack of good education is one of the main causes for the divide. I am able to enjoy the many wonderful things the country has to offer – sunshine, scenery, space, wine, golf – and it’s important for me to do a little for those who aren’t as fortunate.” - John Bowker, Johannesburg, News Rays of Hope – Saturday School
“I mentor because education is the key to the upliftment of the individual, and by extension their communities and it is great to be a part of that.” - Patrick Madden, Cape Town, Global Data iKamva
“I mentor because teaching English is only a side effect of this program. The primary focus is on building confidence amongst children and teenagers who would otherwise have little hope due to circumstances out of their control. Our program has proven time and again that their outward confidence has changed noticeably, and their grades in numerous subjects have also improved as a result.” - Carl Hultay, Hong Kong SoCO: After School English Program
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