Founded:
1998

General Services:
Big Brothers Big Sisters International's mission is to promote and
support the development of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs throughout the world - operating independently in various countries - and help them build service capacity and create sustainability. The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is a professionally managed mentoring program where a selected and trained volunteer is "matched" to a young person to help better his/her life. The relationship is one of friendship and encouragement and continues over an extended period of time.

Overview:
Building on the century-long history and expertise of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the United States, Big Brothers Big Sisters International (BBBSI) was founded in 1998. Since then an alliance of local and national programs has developed, creating a worldwide community of organizations committed to creating a better life and future for children and youth. As of 2003, multiple programs exist in 36 countries with national associations in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, United Kingdom and the USA. Through training, technical assistance, communications, sharing of best practices, and ongoing consultations, BBBS International ensures that these programs are prepared to succeed. BBBS International acts as a catalyst and a resource and empowers local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to move the Big Brothers Big Sisters program from start up to sustainability.

BBBS International's services consist of technical assistance, best practices, capacity building and sustainability, and an international presence. The breadth of worldwide tragedy and lost potential of these children is enormous and the cost to their countries is staggering. They are the leaders and workforce of the future but without nurturing and positive development, neither they nor their countries can hope for, much less achieve, a productive future. Founded to help meet this critical need, BBBS International provides essential support to NGOs in creating Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs. In turn, the programs help these children develop, by matching them with a caring adult volunteer - their Big Brother or Big Sister. Decades of experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in the United States and Canada have proved that having a caring adult friend makes a measurable difference in young people's lives.