Protege
Ruth Saks, Protégé Coordinator
610-834-1040 ext.21
ruths@rsvpmc.org

What is Protégé?
Protégé, a mentoring program developed in 1996, is a relationship driven program which fosters trust and friendship between mentors and their youth.

What is a Protégé Mentor?
Protégé mentors form ongoing one-on-one relationships with selected students from elementary, middle, and high school. Mentors have a profound impact on their student’s lives; they serve as role models providing friendship, guidance, support, expertise and a wealth of life experiences.  Mentors are asked to make a commitment of one year to the program. Through the program, mentors seek to help their youth remain in school, cultivate their abilities, avoid high-risk behaviors, broaden their life experiences, and plan for their futures.

How is a match made?
School personnel refer children to the Protégé Coordinator who interviews each student to assess their needs before being matched. All potential volunteer mentors are interviewed, screened, and trained. Mentors must provide references and submit to criminal and child abuse background checks. Mentors receive training and support through ongoing workshops and sessions.  Protégé works closely with the youth, the school, and the parent to provide just the right match for each young person and adult. The Protégé Coordinator provides ongoing support for the youth and mentor.

Where and when do Mentors and youth meet?
Protégé mentors from all over the county work with students from seven school districts in Montgomery, Abington, Cheltenham, Lower Merion, Methacton, North Penn, Norristown, and Pottstown. Mentors meet with their youth both during the school day and/or on weekends, depending on schedules. Protégé obtains tickets to cultural, entertainment, and sporting events and offers them at no cost  to mentors to use with their youth.

What do youth, families and mentors say?
Many matches last over several years and often mentors continue to see their students who are attending college. 50 % of Protégé relationships have continued for two years or more. It is important to note that research conducted on mentoring correlates the length of matches with overall positive outcomes for youth.  Quality of program administration is a key factor in determining the length of the matches. Protégé’s commitment to the appropriateness and the success of matches is its top priority and the primary reason matches continue.  Protégé has served more than 200 children in the last 12 years.

The Protégé coordinator collects end-of-the year data from students, mentors, and school guidance counselors, which includes the student’s report card. Each student is interviewed at the end of the school year to get his/her impression of their mentor.

Here’s what people are saying about Protégé:

“Very fun and interactive program…allows you to build your self-esteem…can grow a strong relationship with your mentor…have a lot of fun…enjoy it a lot. Before I had a mentor I got into trouble and was suspended. Mr. Jim (mentor) encourages me to think and helped change my life in and out of school. I feel better because I’m not in trouble. I always stop and think before I act out.” — Student

“Bri is a special ED student with lots of learning challenges. She needs a lot of support. My husband and I tutor her once a week. We have grown very close and enjoy sharing time together. I arranged a trip to Washington D.C. to meet with our congresswoman. We had a wonderful day touring the Capital and seeing the House in session. I had Bri prepare interview questions and we followed up with a report for school. We have always had a strong connection.” — Mentor         
           
“Tierra is a delightful young lady. She has really grown up this year. She is extremely fond of her mentor and the Protégé program has been and is a wonderful experience for her”. — School Guidance Counselor

RSVP is always searching for an ethnically diverse group of male and female mentors.
We especially need African-American men in the Norristown and Main Line areas.