vMentor on-line pen pals

[bacarver]

Is anyone else participating in this volunteering program with foster care youth? Has anyone heard of it?
I applied over 1 1/2 years ago and was finally matched in May with a high school student. I am expected to send a message once a week through a protected e-mail portal for 2 years. The student is supposed to communicate as well, but mine isn't. The support staff seems to have disappeared and isn't doing anything to encourage participation on the part of the teen. I'm sure that some of the matches are successful, but I feel pretty frustrated about the whole thing. I had to go through a careful approval process that led me to believe that this volunteering opportunity would be meaningful and enjoyable.
The program has a website listed under vMentor.
Thanks - Barb

[mtbdarby]

Barb - I was ust looking at this website last weekend. I'm not a mentor but please keep me posted on your experience. Is there someone you had contact with during the screening process you can contact to see what's going on?

Sounds like the problem I had as a literacy volunteer. Pretty sad to go through all the training and strike out twice with people who wanted help, but they have big fear and trust hurdles to cross. Best of luck!

[bacarver]

Hi mtbdarby -

Thanks for being the one that didn't let my lonely thread die. Thanks for checking out the vMentor website. It looks impressive and seems to be a great opportunity, and I'm thinking it is in many cases. But not mine.

I've kept track of the messages since I was matched with a 16 year old foster child. She sent 1 message early on and then quit. I've sent 17 messages. It's just like sitting in an empty room and talking to myself. I am required to send her a message once a week for two whole years. I'm a person of my word and I will fulfill my obligation.

I did ask the caseworker early on why the teen wasn't corresponding with me. The caseworker reminded the teen to write to me. I received one more message and then it stopped. I don't think this girl is in the program willingly. I think someone told her it would be good for her.

We are supposed to review and discuss life skills topics once a month. vMentor has never made these available to me during the 3 months I've been matched.

I could contact the caseworker again to ask her why the girl doesn't e-mail me, but begging turns me off.

I think the program is funded by grant money. I'm a warm body and the match is a warm match. We represent grant dollars even though the actual match is going nowhere.

The caseworker has direct access to the e-mails that enter and leave the portal. I find it interesting that they've said nothing to me about the girl's total lack of participation.

In fact, the e-mail I got from the caseworker yesterday was geared toward a match that is active and energetic. She obviously hasn't reviewed the list of e-mails to see that I'm the only one writing. She doesn't even know.

I was a Laubach Literacy tutor when I lived in Indy. I so wanted to help people learn to read, but that project withered and died as well.

Thanks for listening.

If the girl ever does start writing to me, I'll send an update.

Barb

[Biciclista]

It would be hard to keep up a correspondence with someone who does not write back. I'm impressed that you have written so many emails to someone who might not even be reading them.

I have tried to correspond with some underprivileged distant young relatives but it's always just as you describe. Writing for some people is a burden, not a pleasure, and since you don't know them, and they don't know you, they don't really have a good reason (in their mind) to correspond.
If you get one that is motivated, i'd say you would be really fortunate.