NU China Care is happy to announce the return of the GeGe/JieJie Mentorship Program! In this program, each child signed up is individually matched with one of our wonderful Northwestern student mentors who will work to bond together and help guide his or her mentee to find a stronger sense of personal identity. Mentor and mentee pairs will participate in quarterly group events with the other mentorship pairs and are encouraged to see each other outside of playgroups and mentorship events. We hope that we will be able to cultivate bonds that go past just our organization and that we can become a role model, and more importantly, a friend to each mentee.
If you’re interested in finding a mentor for your child…
Please click the button below to apply or send an email to nuchinacare@gmail.com. You will then be put in touch with a committed member of our organization who will work with you in identifying your child’s interests and preferences so that we can make the best match possible. Our club member will also answer any and all questions that you might have, so please feel free to reach out! Otherwise, you can check out our “For Parents FAQ” below.
If you’re interested in being a mentor…
First of all, thanks! We love to see so many people interested in being a mentor. The first step is to fill out an application by clicking that button below. Otherwise, you can email us at nuchinacare@gmail.com if you have additional questions or have trouble filling out the application. After you submit your application, you will be contacted by a member of our organization who will set up an interview between you and one of our exec members to gauge your interest and commitment and to find out your interests so we can match you with the best mentee possible. We’ll also go over the various expectations a mentor might have so that you don’t ever feel lost. If you have any more questions, please feel free to reach out, or check out our “Being a Mentor FAQ” below!
Parents’ FAQ
What age does my child have to be to have a mentor?
Generally, we assign mentors to children between 3 to 16 years old. However, if your child is outside of this range, but you feel they would be a good fit for China Care, please contact us, and we’d be happy to accommodate you!
Will I get to meet the mentor before they are matched with my child?
Of course! During the pairing process, we will make sure you are aware of everything that is going on, and we can give you the opportunity to meet potential mentors.
What demographic of people do NU China Care mentors come from?
From a cultural standpoint, our mentors come from a variety of different backgrounds, though the majority of them have some sort of Chinese heritage. All our mentors are students attending Northwestern University and range in age from 18 to 22.
If my child's mentor is a college student, how can I be sure they won't graduate before really getting to know my child?
We target mainly freshmen and sophomores when choosing our mentors so that they will be able to be your child’s mentor for at least 3 to 4 years. Additionally, we make commitment a huge priority during our application process, so any Northwestern student who is a part of our program is ready to put in the effort to form a strong bond.
What's the difference between mentorship events and playgroups?
Playgroups are open to all our families and often center around a specific cultural theme. Mentorship events are only for mentorship pairs and focus on strengthening the bond between each mentor and mentee. Our mentorship events tend to consist of different bonding activities while playgroups feature educational or cultural ones.
Does my child see his or her mentor outside of these events?
Of course! Our mentors make sure to see their mentees outside of our events at least once a month and often more frequently. We want to form bonds that exist outside of just our mentorship program and that will hopefully last a very long time.
In these outings, will my child be alone with his or her mentor?
No. We have a system that pairs each mentor-mentee pair with another so that at the very least, each outing will have two mentors and two mentees. We understand that you might not be comfortable leaving your child alone with anyone, so we hope that this system works for everyone involved. In case you have more concerns, we are more than happy to accommodate any requests.
FAQ for being a mentor
How do I become a mentor?
Fill out this application! If you’re a fit, we’ll contact you right away!
What kind of mentors are you looking for?
We want mentors who are above all else, committed to both our cause and to their mentees. Otherwise we love to see variety in different interests and backgrounds, so as long as you’re interested in being a mentor, we encourage you to apply! However, we encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply so our mentees can have the same mentors for at least three
Can I still apply if I'm not a freshman or sophomore?
Of course!
Do I get to choose which mentee I get?
No. However, we match pairs based on mutual interests and you can definitely let us know what kind of mentee you would like to have. We will do everything we can to make sure you are happy with the mentee with whom we pair you.
Will I have to pay for my outings?
Unfortunately, China Care cannot guarantee that we can completely fund your outings, but we’re more than happy to meet with you to help you arrange outings that require minimal expenses.
What should I do to prepare becoming a mentor?
Find out about our cause by reading about our mission!
That’s it for mentorship! To find out more, please feel free to reach out to us! And of course, for updates on our events make sure to check out our Facebook page!