The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley

The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley connects youth facing social, emotional, and academic challenges with trusted adult mentors who offer consistent, caring relationships. Through community-based support, enrichment experiences, and skill-building guidance, we help youth develop confidence, belonging, and the tools to shape a hopeful future.

The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley (TMPUV) is a community-rooted, relationship-driven nonprofit founded in 2004, and remains the only independent mentoring program of its kind in Vermont. We serve youth ages 9–18 across the towns within the Orange East Supervisory Union and the Rivendell Interstate School District—including Ryegate, Topsham, Corinth, East Bradford, Groton, Thetford, Fairlee, Newbury, Wells River, and Vershire. At TMPUV, we believe that every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported. We focus especially on those navigating complex life circumstances, including trauma, poverty, unstable home dynamics, or limited access to trusted adult guidance. Rather than defining youth by risk, we recognize and uplift their strengths, meeting them where they are with empathy, consistency, and encouragement.

We partner with schools, community organizations, and healthcare providers to identify youth who would benefit from mentoring, working closely with educators, counselors, and families to ensure that participation is rooted in trust and readiness. Outreach includes school visits, community tabling, social media engagement, and word-of-mouth referrals. Mentors are recruited from throughout the Upper Valley and reflect the commitment, diversity, and spirit of our local communities. Each mentor undergoes careful screening and completes a required orientation before being matched. Ongoing support includes trauma-informed and equity-centered training opportunities, as well as quarterly meetups focused on youth mental health, boundaries, communication, and cultural humility. This support ensures that mentors are well-prepared to form lasting, meaningful, and mutually enriching relationships. Our match process prioritizes compatibility, shared interests, and natural connection. Mentors and mentees commit to engaging in-person for a minimum of five hours each month, building trust through consistency and shared experiences. These relationships often extend far beyond the initial commitment, with our longest match now in its seventh year.

In addition to one-on-one mentoring, we create opportunities for community connection and engagement because we believe youth thrive not only through individual relationships but also through collective belonging. We host group events such as community picnics, activities, service projects, and fundraising efforts that bring mentors, mentees, and families together. Today, TMPUV supports 19 active mentor-mentee matches, with 3 more in progress—reflecting 111% growth in just two years. Our goal was to reach 20 matches by the end of 2025, which was achieved. These enduring, trust-based partnerships are the heartbeat of our mission and a powerful force for resilience, connection, and long-term growth in the lives of the young people we serve.

Our Goals:

• Enhance resiliency, community connectedness, future aspirations, and prosocial skills in mentees.
• Foster friendships based on trust, respect, and communication.
• Increase mentee self-esteem.
• Raise awareness and accountability for their actions.
• Promote joyful and healthy life choices through engaging activities.
• Establish and nurture a positive future outlook by supporting academic growth, career exploration, and skill development

Our program plays a vital role in supporting the health, well-being, and future readiness of youth in our rural Upper Valley communities. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Orange East Supervisory Union, 28% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless in the past year, and 15% had made a plan about how they would attempt suicide. Additionally, only 43% of students felt that they mattered to people in their community—highlighting a critical need for increased connection, adult support, and pathways to purpose. In 2023 alone, our local school districts documented 54 incidents of suicidal ideation, 21 hazing, harassment, and bullying investigations, 13 crisis interventions, and 10 threat assessments. Nearly a quarter (24%) of students were identified as chronically absent. These data underscore the urgent need for consistent, caring adult relationships and meaningful opportunities for youth to feel engaged, hopeful, and supported.