Nine years ago, Luke Donnelly and Wade Meads were matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Rotorua, sparking a lifelong friendship. Luke, who lost his father at a young age, found in Wade a mentor, role model, and friend. Even after Luke aged out of the program at 20, they maintained their bond.

BBBS is a global mentoring program that pairs adult mentors with children, fostering friendships through weekly one-on-one activities. Now, BBBS Rotorua is celebrating its 10th anniversary and 200th match.

Luke’s mother, Lisa Beamsley, praises the program for exceeding her expectations and considers Wade and his family as part of their own. Wade joined BBBS to make meaningful use of his free time, and over the years, his relationship with Luke became second nature. They initially met weekly, sharing activities from working on cars to holiday shopping.

Despite Luke moving to Auckland for school, they stayed in touch and still catch up when possible. Luke aspires to become a mentor himself, inspired by Wade’s impact on his life. Wade highly recommends becoming a mentor, acknowledging the significant commitment but also the immense rewards.