AMACHI PROGRAM Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi AMACHI
"Who knows but what God has brought us through this child."
Today in the United States 2.4 million children have one or both parents in
prison. Research has determined that 70% of these youngsters are
likely to be incarcerated at some point in their lives. This staggering statistic
is brought home as we consider what is happening to children
of the 40,800 individuals who are inmates in Mississippi's correctional system.
A new mentoring initiative is developing through Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Mississippi, Mississippi Mentoring Network, and faith-based organizations.
It is AMACHI. AMACHI is a West African word and means "Who knows but what
God has brought us through this child."
The program is based on a similar program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The initial goal of AMACHI is to identify churches in Hinds, Rankin, and Madison
counties that will become AMACHI churches.
These churches have three primary responsibilities:
1. Identify 10 to 12 adults who will mentor a child (ages 5 to 14) for a year.
2. Identify an AMACHI Volunteer Coordinator to serve as a liaison between
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi and the church.
3. Provide special activities throughout the year to support the Littles and
the
Bigs.
After AMACHI matches are established in the tri-county area, the program will
move to South Mississippi and the Coast and then to the Delta and North Mississippi.
Over the next eighteen months, the program will support 300 matches throughout
Mississippi. Please consider joining other "People of Faith Mentoring Children
of Hope". If you are interested in more information about AMACHI, please
contact:
Director of Programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi
175 E. Capitol St., Suite 222
Jackson, MS 39201
601.961.9286 -telephone
601.961.9288 - fax
bbbsms02@bellsouth.net
