Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP)

If you are 14 to 17 years old and live in Windham County, Vermont, consider participating in the Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP), a high-tech career-focused mentoring program for youth facing life challenges or at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. The national RAMP mentoring model utilizes a combination of group, peer and one-on-one mentoring to promote the successful transition of RAMP youth to employment, continued learning opportunities and independent living. RAMP is starting this semester.

In the program, youth will participate in weekly career preparation-focused group meetings, including peer-supported goal setting and exploration of careers in science, technology, engineering and math. They will meet regularly one-on-one with a mentor to develop and implement an individualized mentoring plan. RAMP mentors are caring adults recruited from the community, schools, employers and partner organizations. At the end of the program cycle in August, each group of youth will work with an industry advisor to complete a high-tech project. While in RAMP, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Assess and explore career interests
• Develop an individual mentoring plan and set goals
• Create a resource map of the community’s high-tech industries
• Participate in weekly group and peer-to-peer mentoring
• Gain workplace soft skills and build resume-writing and interviewing skills
• Interact with employers and experience a variety of work settings
• Give and receive peer support
• Take advantage of group and personal leadership opportunities
• Design and build a high-tech-related team project
• And most importantly…have fun!

Youth Services will closely monitor and structure activities between each youth and the mentor. Further, Youth Services has thoroughly screened and investigated the volunteer RAMP mentor with whom participants will be matched. We will provide every opportunity for parents to meet with the mentor and be involved in the development of the mentor–mentee relationship. The staff at Youth Services believe that youth will benefit from having an adult model, assist with and enhance performance, career skills, self-esteem, emotional development, and more.

For further information call (802) 257-0361 ext 126.or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We expect that this program will greatly benefit everyone involved.