Auburn Family mentors local youth through University Outreach program, Project Uplift

Auburn University students are mentoring the next generation through University Outreach’s Project Uplift program.

Project Uplift is a mentorship program that works to connect members of the Auburn community with children in the surrounding communities who could benefit from positive role models in their lives. Since starting the program in 1973, Project Uplift has included more than 9,000 children and mentors and is currently housed in the College of Human Sciences. Through their relationships, the commitment between mentors and mentees is reducing the delinquency rate in Lee County. 

After an application and interview process, Auburn students are put into pairs to mentor one child together. Mentors work hard to schedule activities each week and find the best ways to connect with their mentee, meaning activities can range from attending an Auburn baseball game to setting weekly goals.

“We created a ‘challenge of the week’ for our kids to complete before the next time we see them,” said sophomore human development and family science major and Project Uplift mentor Grace Wimberly. “Some examples of our challenges include doing one selfless deed or cleaning their room without being asked. They are small deeds but mean a great deal to us, and it’s very rewarding getting to see their outward progress that reflects their internal changes.”

By applying to be a mentor, Auburn students can give back to their community through creating valuable, long-term relationships with children who need it most. Children involved in the program often come from difficult family backgrounds and environments, and Project Uplift is a chance for children to find companionship from Auburn students with a heart for selfless service. 

“From a guy’s perspective, I can say that a lot of the boys in our program don’t have solid father figures in their homes, so the male mentors in our program often serve as the main male role models in these boys’ lives,” said mentor and third-year pre-med student Tate Record. “It’s so fun and easy to take them to the playground or out for ice cream, but at the same time, it makes a significant impact on their life because of your character and consistency.”

Just as the children are gaining role models, Auburn mentors are being molded, too. The consistent, sincere relationship between Project Uplift mentors and mentees shapes kind, compassionate Auburn men and women.

“I can genuinely say that my Auburn University experience has been enhanced by being a Project Uplift mentor,” Wimberly said. “It has been just as beneficial to me as I hope it has been to the children.”

The wait list of Lee County children in need of a mentor is long, and Project Uplift needs more volunteers. Applications are open year-round and open to any member of the Auburn community, not just current students. 

“Mentors are some of the few people that stand between a child and poor choices later on. There is no one in Auburn who is easier to love than these kids, but there’s also no one who needs it more,” Record said. 

For more information on Project Uplift, contact Program Coordinator Kelley Wells. Pictures, testimonials and more can be found on the program’s Instagram account @auprojectuplift.