Testimonial
A Bond that Builds: Dave & Dr Paul’s Mentoring Story
Mentor
Dave* was 9 years old when he first met his mentor, Dr Paul, in 2024. Although Dave was naturally quiet and shy, he slowly opened up to his mentor through drawing and building Lego blocks. Over time, he began to share about his time with Papa and Mama. Dave once wrote, “I want to see Papa and Mama together.” As his mentor, Dr Paul could not change Dave’s circumstances, but helped him to face life with hope and resilience. Perhaps that is the greatest gift a mentor can ever give.
Once, Dave looked up at Dr Paul and said, “You are supposed to help me.” A simple yet powerful statement that revealed how Dave understood mentoring: to grow, to heal, and to become a better version of himself.
One day, the roles reversed as Dave became the one who guided his mentor to fold an origami. This greatly increased Dave’s self-confidence. On another occasion, Dave surprised his mentor by singing a song. This melted Dr Paul’s heart as he recalled Dave being once shy and quiet. It was a beautiful turning point for Dave!
Dr Paul often says, “Dave truly warms my heart with his unexpected enthusiastic participation.”
He added a quote, “Mentoring a young child is to help him develop his hidden and untapped talents.”
Over time, the special bond between Dave and Dr Paul deepened through shared birthday cakes and memorable story times. Dave has also grown tremendously as he has overcome his shyness and can now greet others warmly while expressing himself confidently. Truly, mentoring has led to Dave’s transformation.
What began as structured mentoring evolved into a heartfelt relationship, where both mentor and mentee gave and received in equal measure. For Dr Paul, the sessions have been enriching and life-affirming. As for Dave, the sessions have provided a safe space where he could be seen, heard, and most of all, valued.
After every mentoring session, Dr Paul is dedicated to sending detailed updates of mentoring activities and Dave’s progress to his parents. Using WhatsApp, both parents and the mentor could communicate openly and work together to help Dave flourish. It is wonderful to witness how our mentor is committed to regular updates, and both parents are receptive to receiving support.
Indeed, this real-life story is a beautiful testament to how our volunteer mentor worked closely with the parents to enable a child’s flourishing and growth.