Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda will hold their annual Tag Days today and tomorrow at 18 locations in the Hamilton area, with the goal of raising $12,000.

The charity pairs boys and girls with male and female role models. Currently there are 59 little boys waiting for Big Brothers and 12 little girls waiting for Big Sisters. Money raised will go towards matching children, primarily from single parent homes, with positive and caring role models as well as helping with the expenses of putting on functions and activities.

"The numbers have been as high as 70 (for boys) at one point and has recently decreased to between 45 and 50 and over the last couple of weeks has increased again to 59," explained president Lisa Webb.

Ms Webb stressed the importance of those young boys and girls having positive role models in their lives, though there is a greater need for the boys as the girls usually have their mothers in their lives.

"We're very concerned about recruiting male volunteers for the big brother role, positive and caring male role models who will be committed to spending a few hours a week with the child,'' said the president.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be one-on-one time, it could be time on the telephone. One of the big misconceptions about being a Big Brother is that it is such a significant responsibility, when really what it is is having a buddy for the little brother to do fun things with, like playing sports or something as simple as washing a car together.

"Some of these little boys have been waiting two or three years to be matched with a big brother so certainly those are our priority cases. We don't really have a waiting list of little sisters, most of the little sisters on the list are in the process of being matched."

Presently, the charity has about 89 boys and girls matched with big brothers and big sisters, 39 girls and 50 boys.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters has been making a positive impact on children's lives in Bermuda for 23 years.

Through professionally supported, one-on-one relationships, the children are able to build lasting relationships which embrace their emotional, social and recreational well being.

The president has been involved in the Big Brother Big Sister charity for eight years, five in Canada and the last three here in Bermuda. Her own little sister in Canada is presently attending university.

Prior to taking over the presidency in May of this year, Ms Webb was the public relations director for the local charity for two years.

Although Big Brothers and Big Sisters is part of an international network, the local operation is run and financed entirely independently of their sister organisations overseas and relies on the generous support of individual and corporate donors in Bermuda.

Added the president: "One event to watch out for in October is the `Big for a Day' event at Warwick Camp (October 20, 11 to 3 p.m.) and essentially what that is is that for males who are interested they have the opportunity to come out for a few hours and interact with some of the little ones who are on the waiting list just to see what it is like to be a Big Brother for a day.

"If they are interested from there we can take it to the next step."

Those involved with the charity are encouraged and heartened by the success stories as the youngsters go on to become productive members of society.

"In Bermuda there are hundreds of success stories and thousands worldwide," said Ms Webb.

"Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America conducted research over the course of about ten years and that research told us that of the children that participated in the programme, 90 per cent of those children demonstrated a sharp increase in their self esteem immediately.

"Seventy-nine per cent are less likely to use drugs or alcohol and around that same number are also less likely to resort to using violence as a means of expressing themselves."

Added Ms Webb: "One thing we like to ask potential volunteers is to think about the positive role models that they've had in their life, a coach, a teacher, an uncle, and think about how that relationship worked for them."

For more information on the local BBBS programme, call 292-2802 or visit their website at www.bbbs.bm.