By Allison Marten ’09
The Big Partner/Little Partner (BPLP) community service program at Gustavus gives students a unique opportunity to connect with and mentor local youth.
BPLP is a one-on-one mentorship program between Gustavus students and first through fifth grade students in the St. Peter community. “Our goal is to provide outstanding role models for the children in our community,” said senior BPLP coordinator Sara Hein. BPLP has grown to become the largest community service program at Gustavus comprising of more than 340 Gustavus students and local children.
“The reputation that BPLP has with the Gustavus community and the St. Peter community is outstanding, which encourages new participants on both ends each year,” said senior BPLP coordinator Maggie Hedlund. Each fall Gustavus student volunteers, known as big partners, pair up with a compatible child to be their little partner for the year.
The program kicks off with a “matching meeting” on campus where partners (old and young) and parents meet together for the first time. The partners are then encouraged to get together once a week for at least two hours. The pairs spend time doing activities such as baking cookies, playing games, working on craft projects, and watching sporting events.
Although the BPLP program is a one-year commitment, many pairs form bonds that extend beyond. Senior Asitha Jayawardena and his little partner Jacob have been involved in the program for the past three years. “My highlights with Jacob include teaching him how to play tennis (a sport he now loves!), going trick-or-treating, exchanging Christmas gifts, and receiving matching henna tattoos at the International Festival,” said Jayawardena.
While the little partners benefit from spending time with a positive role model, the big partners take a lot away from the program as well. “It [BPLP] allows Gustavus students to step down from our ‘home upon the hill’ and reach out into the St. Peter community. Hanging out with Jacob is always a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of college life,” Jayawardena said.
Eight Gustavus student coordinators manage the BPLP program and plan monthly group events for the big and little partners to participate in. These events allow the children to interact with their peers and work on their communication skills all while having fun. Most recently at the Halloween event, partners spent time trick-or-treating in first-year student residence halls as well as bobbing for donuts, making sucker ghosts, and decorating pumpkins.
The November group activity is an Olympic-themed event where partners compete in athletic games and non-athletic activities such as puzzles. In December, a culturally educational holiday party will give big and little partners the opportunity to learn about holiday traditions celebrated around the world. This spring, an Earth Day event focusing on recycling, planting flowers, and other environmentally friendly activities will take place in the arboretum.
“We are always looking for children in the St. Peter community who want to have fun and be a part of something really special,” said Hedlund.
Leave a Reply