A MENTORING (导师制) program is giving life changing opportunities to Banbury youth.
Young Inspirations was founded two years ago to provide mentoring sessions for students and unemployed young adults aged 11 to 21.
Alex Goldberg, the program's founder, said; "We set up Young Inspirations because we wanted to give young people experiences which will potentially be life changing and broaden their outlook.
"We try to create work experience opportunities that will really make a difference to our youth. For example, we've secured internships (实习) with world-famous firms such as Honda.
"At a time of funding cutbacks where schools are finding it more and more difficult to offer this kind of mentoring, it is extremely important that these opportunities are available both to help youth with their school work and grades and to give them opportunities which may help shape their futures. " Kieran Hepburn, 14, is one of a group of Banbury youth who has benefited from the program so far. In October the Banbury School pupil was accompanied by Young Inspirations staff to Paris where he was an observer at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) International Youth Forum (论坛).
The event was held for young people from around the world, to seek their views on how the future of youth and education should look. Kieran joined several hundred observers mostly in their 20s and was the only UK school pupil to attend the event. Kieran thinks the trip was a life changing experience. " Before we left I didn't quite know what to make of it but when we got there we didn't stop, it was amazing," he said, " We went to three or four hours of debates each day and then did something cultural each afternoon. "
The main theme of the forum was how youth can drive change in political and public life. It dealt with issues (问题) such as drug abuse, violence and unemployment.
Kieran said: " It has really helped me to improve my confidence and social skills as well as my school grades and I was voted most improved pupil at school in August. "
The Young Inspirations mentoring sessions take place each Friday in Banbury. For details visit www.younginspirations.com.
小题1:The Young Inspirations mentoring program aims to _____.
| A．train staff for world-famous firms | B．offer job opportunities to young adults |
| C．provide youth with unique experiences | D．equip the unemployed with different skills |
小题2:According to Alex Goldberg, it is difficult for schools to offer the mentoring due to _____.
| A．the lack of support from firms | B．the cultural differences |
| C．the effect of unemployment | D．the shortage of money |
小题3:According to the passage, the forum focused on how youth can ____.
| A．build up their confidence at school | B．find work experience opportunities |
| C．improve their social skills for the future | D．play an active role in the change of society |
小题4:We can learn from the passage that _____.
| A． the visit to the United Kingdom was amazing |
| B． Kieran has made great progress in many aspects |
| C． the youth have found a way to solve their problems |
| D． the mentoring sessions are held every day except Friday |
小题5:What would be the best tide for the passage?
| A． Alex Goldberg, Founder of Young Inspirations |
| B． Young People Find a World of Opportunity |
| C． Kieran, Banbury School Pupil to Paris |
| D． Debates Help Youth with Their Grades |