About DIVA

Determined Individuals with a Vision to Achieve (DIVA) is a mentoring program for high school girls focusing on character development, academic success and college and career preparation. Our goal is to create more positive, self-assured young women who are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to make better decisions in their academic and personal lives.

We partnered with Southeast High School’s AVID program in Wichita, Kan. in Fall 2008, and had such positive feedback from participants that we changed our format from biweekly to weekly lunch meeting discussions. Four mentors – all in our 20s, representing various careers and educational backgrounds – devoted our time and money to ensure the program’s success.

Our school-based discussion format allowed us to talk about topics including positive relationship building to ACT Prep. We invited guest speakers including the Mayor of Wichita, Carl Brewer and Assistant County Manager, Ron Holt, among others.

We averaged nine students over 21 sessions, which equates to about 13 hours.

Expenses for each session averaged $40 including meals and materials.

The feedback from students included: “I became myself again. This program helped me to be more my self, to be respectful.”

For more information, e-mail divamentors@yahoo.com