Some children need tutoring and mentoring to learn a school subject and to gain adult attention that they may not be able to receive at home due to busy parents with multiple priorities. Some small business owners need mentoring in order to learn how to run a business and stay afloat. Some people in need could use a confidence boost from an experienced senior who wants to help them by mentoring them about how to succeed in life.

 

Mentoring or tutoring others is likely something you've thought about before, even if you've never had the time, and it's one of the best things you can do to help others in your community when you retire as well. It is also one of the most rewarding and can potentially be a source of supplemental income.

Let’s say you are already retired. How do you begin? Where do you start to find the opportunities to contribute?

Explore Local Tutoring Opportunities

Look for opportunities in your local area as mentoring and tutoring requires meeting with people on a regular basis, often in the evening or on weekends, and it would be easiest if you did not have to travel a long distance to get to them. Explore opportunities at your local high school, community center, hospital, churches, college, and even library.

Check Out Website Listings

If you are comfortable online, place an ad on Craigslist or scroll through the requests for tutors on Craigslist. Take a look at the web site tutor.com for a way to help students and make extra money as well.

Serve On A Board

If you have experience as a business executive, doctor or other profession, consider your mentoring efforts in light of offering your services to a board. It could be the board of your local hospital, orphanage, museum, or business. You will be able to contribute your experience and skills and advise them so that they can do their job more effectively.

Share Experience In the Arts

If your experience was in the arts, you are in demand! Fashion schools, art schools, music schools--- all are in need of senior mentors for their aspiring students. Many could use serious help in order to graduate or to help decide which aspects of a career to pursue. Your life experience would be invaluable to them.

Consider Professional Tutoring

And there are even professional tutoring programs you can apply to be a tutor for. One of the oldest is the Sylvan Tutoring Program that helps students pass their exams. The Sylvan Program is ideal because you can either work part time in their centers or work online or from home.Most states have a Volunteer and Mentoring program in place that you can offer your services to

Mentor Children

The National Mentoring Partnership (mentoring.org) is a great place to start looking for mentoring opportunities to help children between the ages of 6 and 18. Simply visit their web site and type in your zip code for mentoring programs in your local area.

Volunteer To Help Impoverished Children

Another wonderful resource is United Way. Visit them online as they often recruit for education volunteers who contribute as little as one hour a week to help kids.And don’t forget to look into giving classes at adult continuing education centers in your area.

Your expertise and guidance to help others move ahead in life will can be your way of giving back. It's never too late to make a difference!