Toyota Ireland has announced that it's going to support the Foróige Big Brother Big Sister youth development programme.
Friendship and support
The programme aims to provide "friendship, support and guidance from a caring adult volunteer that will aid young people in making positive decisions and guiding them on their journeys into adulthood." The support from Toyota will not just be cash nor cars, but will also include plans for staff from Toyota Ireland's corporate HQ, and its many dealers, to get involved with the programme and volunteer to help out.
Commenting on the new partnership, Zoe Bradley, Head of Marketing Communications and Corporate Affairs at Toyota Ireland, said: "We are delighted to announce that Toyota Ireland has partnered with Foróige for the Big Brother Big Sister mentorship programme. Our brand promise of being 'Built for a Better World' moves past just selling cars. We use our innovative way of thinking to consistently consider how we can make life better for future generations in a tangible and positive way.
"With the Big Brother Big Sister programme, the team is building better lives for the children they support and inspiring them to consider the bright futures that lay ahead. Through this partnership, we want to increase the number of volunteers in the programme as well as create important awareness for this initiative. Mentoring young people is based on the power of friendship and can be as easy as going for a walk, having a chat or any activity shared for an hour a week with a consistent and steady presence in their life that they can rely on."
Build a better world
"We look forward to this new chapter with the Foróige team and encourage our customers and colleagues to consider taking part in this initiative so that they can also be part of this journey with us. Consistently committed to delivering its brand promise of 'Built for a Better World', Toyota Ireland is passionate about this mentorship programme as it believes it can have a profound impact and ultimately help to transform the lives of Irish young people. All you have to do is take one hour out of your week, doing simple day to day things with a young person."
The Big Brother Big Sister programme was initially set up by Foróige in 2001, working with HSE West. Since then, it has expanded into 20 counties across Ireland. The whole point is to get young people engaging with their communities and the nation as a whole, to play an active part in the development of society.
Reach their potential
Mary Lynch, Big Brother Big Sister Manager at Foróige, said, "The Big Brother Big Sister programme makes it possible for young people to get the guidance, confidence, and tools they need to discover and reach their potential. We know that the presence of one caring adult can make all the difference in a young person's life.
"This special partnership between Foróige and Toyota Ireland shows the importance of investing in mentoring to build and strengthen our communities and society. We are so grateful to Toyota for believing in the Big Brother Big Sister programme and the impact it can have on a young person's life. An hour a week truly can change lives."