A big sister and friend forever

Madison* says Sarah is just like a big sister.  

Whether they’re practising K-Pop dance moves, painting, ice skating or visiting Luna Park, every visit is jam-packed with fun. It’s no wonder Madison says she wants to see Sarah forever.  

Living with and being cared for by her great-grandmother, Madison is often at home due to her great-grandmother’s age and health. 

“I always try to make sure we are doing things that are out of reach for her great-grandmother to take her to do,” Sarah says.  

Sarah, who’s 24, is a volunteer Youth Mentor with Wesley Aunties & Uncles, which matches an adult, known as ‘aunty or uncle’, with a young person who lives in foster care and needs a positive role model in their life.  

Once a month Sarah drives for an hour to pick up Madison and take her on an adventure. But it’s not just fun moments. They have plenty of time to talk about life. For Madison, this has been life-changing. The last two years have been difficult for Madison, and Sarah came into her life at just the right time.  

“I try my best, as someone who’s a little bit older, to guide her in a direction based on things that I’ve experienced in my own life,” Sarah says. “I know she appreciates that because she does look to me to guide her on certain things.”  

Building trust

While they didn’t click instantly, it didn’t take long for Madison to warm up to Sarah. The turning point came with Sarah showing interest in Madison’s interests.

“She’s really into K-pop music, so every time she gets in the car, I make sure that I’ve got a K-pop playlist on Spotify and will let her pick the songs she wants to listen to,” Sarah explains.  

The trust grew from there, and so did open conversation. 

“Whenever she raises how she’s feeling, I give her the space to talk and offer up the information that she wants to share.”  

Sarah says her heart is full knowing she is making an impact in Madison’s life. 

“She’s faced so many adversities in life. It’s touching to know that I’m having a positive influence,” Sarah says.  

While Sarah volunteered to give back, their strong bond has impacted her life, too.  

“She does hold a really big place in my heart, and I just want to see her excel in life in the best way. I’m very lucky that she’s come into my life, and I’ve learnt a lot from being a mentor to her as well.” 

Giving back  

Working as a Finance Analyst, Sarah says her parents have been instrumental in helping her build the life she has today. When Sarah realised not everyone has the same opportunities and support as she did in her younger years, she decided to help young people gain a better start in life. 

“I saw a couple of people around me who didn’t have a strong figure in their life and it impacted them negatively,” Sarah shares.  

Having now been a youth mentor for two years, Sarah would like to encourage others to volunteer with Wesley Mission.  

“If everyone were a mentor, I’m sure it would have a very large impact on society as a whole because there’d be fewer kids out there who are going through life without the tools that they need to survive. Being a volunteer, it’s so fulfilling. It keeps me grounded in that sense that I’m having that positive impact.”  

In 2023, Sarah was awarded the Youth Volunteer of the Year, Wesley Aunties & Uncles and Wesley Youth Mentoring. 

Could you give one day or one weekend a month to mentor a child? Learn more about mentoring with Wesley Aunties & Uncles.  

*Name changed to protect privacy