From Edward

My good friends, family, acquaintances, brothers, sisters, countrymen and felt point pens:

As many of you know, I've been involved with iMentor since 1999. At first, it started out as a way to use my free time. I started working in the City and found that I had a lot of free time on the computer and rather than playing computer games or surfing the net I've decided to spend a little bit of my time to help someone. It doesn't take that much of my time but rather only 30 minutes to an hour or two a week to write to my mentee, which happens once a week.

A mentee is pretty much a high school student that wants to know about life in general and what's in store for them after going to school, what you've done with your life to get you where you are now and also what you can do to answer some of their questions, some simple, and some complex, hey it's not an easy going world right? It's a great way to help a person out that you've never met or will meet at one of the iMentor events and also a great way to bond with the new friend.

As a mentor I try to honestly answer the questions given to me. To also help reinforce the mentee's interest in school and education. I also tell them how education can get them a long way. This is not only based on the old sermons you hear from your "elders" but put it into a more realistic view, where education got me and those I know, to get jobs or do things they really like. Education and knowledge may not be free; but I try to keep them interested and enthused enough to pursue what they want in life.

The iMentor program has helped a lot of kids since it first started in the late 90s. Because they're growing, they'll need more financial help. It costs $999 to support my mentee and me each program year. If I raise $500, it pretty much covers my mentee, which is cool. This web page is free, but they've asked that I give my essay to let you know that if you have the extra change for this month, or next or so forth and can spare it for this program, that would be cool. I'm not a good solicitor, always hated to ask for money. But, these kids need it, know what I mean? Hope you can help out by using the link and putting my name on the donation, a buck would be great; just pass this around to 534 more people and we're set for the year! By the way my name is Edward Ibao if you forgot already, see you at the next family party, work, street, store, lodge, train and beach (I wish).

Best Regards,
Edward