PAGE 20, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUT 80, 1989 Big Brothers By Trudie Zavadovies James Meltzer of Whitby has just turned 12. He is a video game fanatic, spends hours watching WWF, is an avid rea- der and has a passion for writ- inHe is also one of about 400,000 boys in Canada who is growing up in a fatherless home. When his father left, James hurt. He hurt a lot. Over the past year and a half, in a not-so-small way, Albert Gostick has helped James over the hurdle. He has been there for James. Maybe just a few hours a week, they toss a ball, take in a movie or a soda, and they talk. James knows he can count on Albert -- his Big Brother. The Big Brothers Association of Oshawa-Whitby provides adult male contact to fatherless boys between ages 6 and 14. There are now 18 Little Broth- ers still waiting for a Big Brother. Big Brothers began in Canada in 1913 and has since grown to 175 agencies across the country. Its volunteer board of directors represents a cross-section of the community. The Big Brothers Association of Oshawa-Whitby has a full- time staff of two and one part- time worker. They have a budget of $80,000 and 65 per cent of Big Brothers Association of Oshawa-Whitby Purpose: To provide adult male contact to boys aged six to 14 living in a home without a father. Membership: Two full time and one part-time employees. Volunteer board of 12. Fundraising: Hold events such as Bowl For Millions. Budget of $80,000 of which 65 per cent if funded through the United Way. Contact: 44 William St. W., unit 4, Oshawa, L1G 1J9 579-2551 their funding comes from the United Way. "What makes us unique from other youth organizations," says Lucy -.Becker, publicity coordina- tor, "is that we emphasize a one-to-one relationship. "That one person who will be there, for friendship and fun and whose primary concern will be the boy. "Our goal is to make more matches. Ideally, we'd like every Little Brother that applied to be matched up. "We get most of our Little Brothers from referrals: from mothers, schools or social agen- cies," says Becker. "In 1988 we had 59 referrals." Big Brothers represent a cross- section of men (over aged 18) from all walks of life who commit a few hours a week to spend with a boy living in a fatherless home. There is no cost, other than time and no legal obligations involved in becoming a Big Brother. September is Big Brothers' month. Throughout the year there are activities scheduled for Big and Little Brothers to get together as a group. "There was a bail tournament in May and a family picnic in June," says Becker. "In August our Little Brothers will be going to a -Blue Jays game at the Skydome. "We have Halloween and Christmas parties and informal activity days." James' mother and brother are planning a celebration for his twelfth birthday and he's looking forward to it. He's also looking forward to celebrating bis birth- day with Big Brother Albert. James' advice to boys in his position is, "Try to get a Big Brother. It's a good experience and has changed my life. Things would be different if I hadn't got Albert." For Albert, being a Big Brother has been, "A worthwhile use of time; getting to know someone and making good friends." Both say, "It took a little while to loosen up but it was well worth it." Those interested in becoming Big Brothers or getting Big Brothers can call 579-2551. JAMES MELTZER with Big Brother Albert Gostick. Horizons supports projects in Central America By Ruth Clarke What does Jean Major have common with the poor in Central America? The answer is Horizons of Friendship, an international development organization. Jean Major supports Horizons, and with ber donations the most disadvantaged are aided in projects sponsored in Central America. This summer Horizons of Friendships is launching an awareness canpaign in the lakeshore area between Belleville and Oshawa to bring more support to the people of Central America - to broaden their horizons. What good can a non-profit organized based in the Coboug do for the poor in Central America? Lots. In fact, the work of Horizons of Friendships, based on the second floor of a building on a back street, has been supported by Canadian individuals, schools, churches, service clubs and businesses from coast to coast. Support by individuals continues to be higher, with only six per cent of all Canadian businesses giving to any non-profit organization. Horizons is one of over 200 non-government organizations in Canada that are working internationally. But Horizons is one of the largest working in Central America, and continues to maintain low administrative costs at around 15 per cent of income. Horizons' development projects are supported with matching grants from the Canadian government, ' the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which often means that every dollar provided by Horizons is multiplied three times by CIDA's funding. To date, Horizons has raised $20-million for development projects, which includes matching grants from CIDA. In addition, the Alberta Agency for International Aid (AID) matches in part funds raised by Horizons in Alberta. This doesn't seem like much money when we compare it to dollars spent here in North America. But the truth is that it goes a long way in its effectiveness in countries where people have no mofey, are forgotten and starving. Horizons is an organization that grew out of a volunteer experience thiree founding directors from Cobourg had in Central America in 1971-72. While its basis of actidn grew out of Christian concern, the organization is non- denominational. In Canada. the only office is maintained at Cobourg where a small staff and volunteers administer the donations in support of Horizons' work and the tasks of project writing, project supervision, promotion and planning. The executive personally works with the recipient projects in Latin Anerica through periodic visits each year. Since the beginning, Horizons has bçen supportive to a wide variety of development projects throughout Central America including projects in water, health, literacy, trade-training, agricultural productions, cooperativism and 10 housing projects. Education and development of employment opportunities through cooperative enterprises are a focus of all Horizons' projects. Horizons sees these as the most critical development issues. The 1987 Winegard report on Canada's Development assistance states: "The essence of human dignity of self-reliance, the ability to manage one's own affairs. The essence of extreme poverty is dependence, being subject at every turn to forces utterly beyond one's control. Eradicating mass poverty should be the central purpose of development: partnership that promotes self-reliance should be the indispensable means." Horizons will be contacting local churches, service and professional groups in the lakeshore area in a fundraising effort for community projects in Latin America. Be generous. Broaden your horizons. For more information about Horizoris of Friendship, .call 372-5483 or write to Box 402, Cobourg, Ontario, K9A 4L1. THIS IS THE AD THIS IS THE AD YOU'RE HOPING SOMEONE ELSE SOMEONE ELSE IS HOPING WILLSEE. YOU'ILSEE. The giving begins with you.