The public school-based mentoring programme YouthNet has launched a campaign to heighten the awareness of mentoring in Bermuda.

Mentoring has been around since ancient Greece when Mentor advised the young Telemachus as recorded in Homer's 'Odyssey' and it is taking centre stage in the US this month where the country's first ever National Mentoring Month is being celebrated.

YouthNet executive director Clare Mello said: "The campaign aims is to illustrate the various types of mentoring that exist, their impact and how you can get involved."

YouthNet's mission is to bridge the divide between the affluent and successful business sector and disenfranchised young Bermudians by improving their lives through mentoring.

It is mentored by Ernst & Young (E&Y) which has become a partner to the organisation and provides office space to it at its Reid Street offices, Administrative, IT and technical support as well as advice on financial and strategic initiatives.

E&Y managing partner Tony Joaquin said: "Our involvement with YouthNet goes back about five years. It happened at a time when we had decided that, from a corporate giving standpoint, youth would be our focus.

"It tied in with our youth focus as YouthNet supports kids at risk."

"A partner on the company board acts as an advisor to the charity and there are five active Ernst & Young employees who act as mentors and seven waiting to be matched with a child."

"Ernst & Young is the leader in providing mentors," added Ms Mello.

"YouthNet benefits from the representative on the board as there is some accountability to Ernst & Young as to how YouthNet is doing."

She also said the partnership provides YouthNet with great visibility, credibility and a stable foundation from which to operate.

Operating the charity from the Ernst & Young offices also helps to flatten the costs of operating said Ms Mello.

"From our perspective, we (YouthNet) are treated as part of the Ernst and Young family," which Ms Mello says is wonderful exposure in the business environment.

Several very successful initiatives have been developed by the partners including the Annual YouthNet Fun Charity Golf Tournament, held at Riddells Bay Golf and Country Club for the last two years, raising $20,000 each year.

Ernst & Young invite guests to participate in the tournament and the proceeds are contributed to the Ernst and Young YouthNet fund.

Ernst & Young also made a $1,000 contribution to the charity in lieu of sending Christmas cards this year.

"YouthNet is one of our main charity efforts," says Mr. Joaquin.

The two organisations have also co-developed a YouthNet website expected to be launched this week.

During mentoring month, Ms Mello said she hopes to raise public awareness about the different types of mentoring that people and organisations can get involved in.

Ms Mello said there were not only the obvious types of mentoring such as the programmes run by YouthNet and Big Brothers and Sisters, but also, through relationships such as that enjoyed between Ernst & Young and YouthNet.

"YouthNet's relationship with Ernst & Young is no different from that of a one-on-one mentor relationship; it takes two to make the relationship work and this is very much a partnership," said Ms Mello.