Bainbridge celebrated National Mentoring Month Thursday with a luncheon for those who participate in the 1 on 1 Mentoring program.

Headed by Alesia Brinson, the program pairs local adults with students from Bainbridge schools to be there as a role model, inspiration and guiding light for the young minds.

Brinson said the men and women mentors help by empowering youth to make positive life choices, help you face daily challenges, maximizing their personal potential and encouraging student to stay motivated and focused on education.

“I’m so exited to honor these mentors because they do it on unselfishly,” Brinson said. “We just like to pause and let people know how we appreciate them.”

Brinson began 1 on 1 Mentoring in Bainbridge back in 2005.

Created in 2002 by the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us—individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors to assure positive outcomes for our young people.

Bainbridge State College GED program coordinator Debbie McIntyre said it’s far easier to prepare strong children than to repair broken men. Bainbridge’s 1 on 1 Mentoring program is one of the ways kids in the community can prepare for furthering their education and the rest of their lives.

“A lot of people that come through that are a little bit broken,” McIntyre said. “I want to say how important the relationships that you give these children are. Two things can change lives. One is education and the other is relationships.”