Zoo-Mates took shape in 2006 as a collaboration between the Center for Community Engagement at the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Zoo, and Project Connect, an agency that serves children experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati Public Schools. Now in its fourth year, Zoo-Mates pairs 30 UC students with 30 children experiencing homelessness for yearlong mentoring relationships.
The mentors, University of Cincinnati students of every major and class level, commit to the Zoo-Mates program for a full academic year. They are paired one-on-one with a child to mentor throughout the year, with the possibility of continuing this relationship into the future. At the beginning of the program year, Zoo-Mates volunteers participate in trainings on the best practices of mentoring and the impact of poverty and homelessness on the lives of children.
This year, the Zoo-Mates children all attend the same Cincinnati Public School and range in age from kindergarten to eighth grade. Many of the children are siblings. While children experiencing homelessness may not sleep on the streets, some live in shelters, temporary housing, or with relatives or family friends, and they all lack permanent, stable homes. Project Connect commits to assisting the families throughout the school year, specifically focusing on keeping the children enrolled in one school throughout a family’s many transitions.
Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees meet once a week, both at the Cincinnati Zoo and at the children’s school or elsewhere in the community. At the Zoo, the Zoo-Mates pairs meet ambassador animals, tour the facilities behind the scenes, and explore together. We even spent the night during an exciting Nocturnal Adventure! During Zoo-Mates outings at the children’s school, we play games, craft art project, and learn about science through fun experiments. Our outings are full of smiles, stories, and energy!
Visit truehero.org for a complete description, photos and video from this interesting community service project.
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