||| FROM FUNHOUSE COMMONS |||
Throughout this challenging pandemic, it has been heartening to see our mentors stepping up to maintain their relationships with Orcas youth. During our second Covid winter, mentors have had to get exceptionally creative, with some choosing to meet virtually to stay safe.
One mentor and mentee pair has turned their virtual meetings into an opportunity to create something unique together.
Mentor Yonatan Aldort and mentee Gavin Osborn meet virtually and build worlds together in the popular video game Minecraft. Recently they embarked on a new creation: a massive pirate ship – complete with sails, a multi-room cabin, cargo hold, crows nest, and underwater glass tunnel.
Gavin & Yonatan – Matched for over 4 years!
Yonatan shares, “It can be a lot of fun…everything is built one cube at a time but it’s even more complex than that. Every material must be harvested, and every item you can harvest has multiple potential iterations. For example, wood can be used in its raw log form, with its bark stripped, made into planks, stairs, sticks, etc. There are also certain materials that can be used for magical enchanting of items, the crafting of potions, or mechanical wizardry such as an electrically powered Minecart on a track. Gavin is much more experienced with most of that stuff than me, but my construction chops help me be useful for basic building.”
We at The Funhouse are grateful for our incredible group of mentors and for the flexibility and resilience they’ve shown to prioritize the relationships they’ve created with Orcas youth.
Become a Mentor
The pandemic has taken a deep toll on the mental health of our youth and they need our support. Consider stepping up for your community by volunteering to mentor a local young person. Share your time and your friendship, and experience the rewards of a meaningful relationship.
We currently have seven wonderful kiddos awaiting a mentor with more applying every month.
Please contact jesse@thefunhouse.org to apply, and find more info about our mentor program on our website.
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