Hands On Georgia

Volume 3, Issue 1 April 2006	Project Spotlight: Hands On Thomas County's Bulldog Breakfast Buddies
	The origins of “Mentor” can be traced to Greek Mythology. When King Odysseus left Ithaca to fight in the Trojan War he entrusted his kingdom, including the care of his son, Telemachus to his friend, Mentor. Over the course of time while Odysseus was away, Athena assumed the shape of Mentor and became Telemachus’ guide, providing him counsel and direction. Since then, the term for prudent and trusted advisers became “mentors.”
	In Thomasville, Hands On Thomas County convened a group of Thomasville High School (THS) student leaders to assume the shape of “mentor” to provide guidance to students at Scott Elementary School. The mentoring program, Bulldog Breakfast Buddies began in April 2005. The idea behind the program is to provide younger students the opportunity to develop relationships with an older scholar athlete or student leader.	A Thomasville High School senior listens as his "buddy" at Scott Elementary School practices reading skills.
	THS students encourage their younger buddies to stay in school and help them understand how good study habits lead to good grades. By mingling regularly with the THS students, the enigma of being a star athlete or celebrated musician is less daunting to the Scott students. Success becomes more attainable as the elementary students learn first hand how to identify their goals and the necessary tools to reach them. Each THS club and organization participating in the Bulldog Breakfast Buddies program commits to spending one day per week at Scott. They meet and have breakfast with the younger students between the hours of 7:40 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. before the THS bell rings, so the activity will not interfere with any classes. The success of Bulldog Breakfast Buddies has inspired Brookwood School to partner its scholars with Harper Elementary School. According to Jo Ann Bell, executive director of Hands On Thomas County, “The project is a win-win program that benefits everyone involved.” For more information on how your community can begin a similar project, contact Jo Ann at (229) 226-5200 or via e-mail at info@handsonthomascounty.org. Back to Main >>