The mission of the Learning Buddies Network is to provide volunteer one-on-one tutoring and mentoring at no cost to academically and socially fragile children in the Lower Mainland.  At the same time, we provide meaningful and inspiring volunteer leadership opportunities to the dedicated young people who volunteer their time as tutors and site coordinators.

LBN serves academically and socially fragile elementary school-aged children (Little Buddies) across the Lower Mainland and beyond.  We provide training to our volunteer mentors, who are university and high school students, who serve as tutors. It is a simple but powerful intervention for academically at-risk children who otherwise do not receive the learning assistance they need and deserve.

We are a volunteer-centric organization where senior volunteers mentor our tutors, who mentor our Little Buddies.  We find that volunteers find mentoring highly rewarding, and gain in confidence, maturity and leadership skills through their work.

In the last year we served 371 children with 12-32 sessions each, using a volunteer corps of about 350 persons.  

Why is LBN needed? Many children struggle with reading and/or math skills in early elementary school, yet have capacity to learn. They may lack English language skills, or may not have a language rich environment at home, or have access to books or home reading.  Their parents may not expose them to the many opportunities in daily life to teach basic concepts of quantity. Caregivers may be preoccupied with pressing economic or social/medical needs, which would take precedence over their child's early learning. A sense of academic failure can emerge in these children, and can become entrenched.  This is the profile of our Little Buddies.

Our objective is to 'level the academic playing field' for our discouraged Little Buddies. We aim to halt the downward trajectory of fragile kids who are identified by their teachers as lacking success in their early reading or math instruction, and who otherwise would not get the help they need. Through their own efforts, mediated by the magic of the bond that develops with their nurturing young adult mentor, our Little Buddies' discouragement fades. Over time, they begin to see themselves as capable students, and develop positive attitudes about their education.

Our aim for our Buddies is for them to stay in school and develop a positive attitude to learning.  These are key ingredients of ultimate full participation in Canadian life. The benefits go beyond our Little Buddies to their families and schools, building citizenship. Schools appreciate the support and generosity expressed through LBN programs. The parents are grateful for the free mentoring of their children and recognize this as an expression of Canadian values. Young men and women, as volunteers, benefit through skill building and personal growth. Senior volunteers learn valuable leadership skills. A levelled playing field for all children, the gratitude of schools and parents of the caring that is provided to vulnerable children, and volunteerism in young adults benefits all Canadians, contributing to a healthy and productive citizenry.

Please consider becoming a monthly donor or leave a lasting legacy by making a gift to the Learning Buddies Network in your will. For more information, please email info@learningbuddiesnetwork.com and a representative will look forward to speaking with you.