by Michael Montalvo
Daily Lobo
A new student group can give you a different perspective on life.
The UNM Bigs is a student chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Student Katey Ghelsi said participating in the program changes lives, including those of the volunteers.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"It's the best experience that I've had so far in volunteering, and I think more people need to get involved, because there a lot of kids out there that need Bigs," said Ghelsi, president of the student group.
Almost 200 children are on a waiting list in Albuquerque, and most of them are boys, said Kerrie Copelin, marketing and partnership director of the organization.
"We really need men to step up and volunteer so that we can match all those boys and get them working with positive role models," she said.
UNM students are the second-largest source in New Mexico of big brothers and sisters, Copelin said.
The organization provides a list of activities that are discounted or free to members of Big Brothers Big Sisters, said student Rosalba Rincon, vice president of UNM Bigs.
"It's pretty cool because you both can be exposed to different things," she said.
The program matches adults with children between 6 and 14 years old and provides resources for volunteers and their little brothers and sisters, Copelin said.
Big brothers and sisters, called bigs, commit four hours every month for one year with their matches, called littles, Copelin said.
She said there are two programs in Big Brothers Big Sisters, a site program and a community program.
In the site program, volunteers spend time with their littles at a school or community center, Copelin said.
All the interaction takes place on-site, but they don't exchange personal information, such as phone numbers and addresses, she said.
In the community program, the volunteers and children choose activities to do in the community, Copelin said.
Rincon has an 11-year-old little sister in the community program.
"We either go out for ice cream or pizza or go to a movie," Rincon said. "We also go to different museums around town."
Bigs are matched with littles through an extensive process, she said.
Potential bigs must apply on the organization's Web site, Bbbsa.org.
The candidates are interviewed and asked about their interests, Rincon said.
The bigs meet with a little for the first time with a support specialist, she said.
"After that, you can decide if you don't want to be matched with the kid, or the kid can decide not to be matched with you," she said.
The UNM Bigs are not only looking for big brothers and sisters, Rincon said.
She said students can volunteer with the group without committing to a child.
"Some people may not have the time to be a big," she said. "But if they want to contribute to the program and the community in any way, then we want to
meet them."
For more information on the student group, e-mail Rincon at Rrincon@unm.edu.
