Dean Smith had lots of male role models while growing up.

His father was around and he had five older brothers.

Five years ago he felt the need to do something to help someone who wasn’t so “blessed”.

He became a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and was matched with Zamauri Richardson, a student at Victor Scott Primary School.

Today he will be publicly rewarded for his efforts and be named Big Brother of the Year at a presentation on the steps of City Hall.

Emily Rowe will be named Big Sister of the Year. She stepped in to mentor eight-year-old A’saiya Brangman, whose mother died unexpectedly in 2010.

Pastor Smith and Zamauri spend most of their time reading together, practising Taekwondo and cooking.

“In the early stages Zamauri was quite young,” said the 58-year-old leader of Open Door Christian Academy.

“He was six when I first started mentoring him, so it was quite challenging for me getting used to being around a young person again.

“My children were all pretty much grown at that time, so that was definitely an adjustment.

“But seeing him grow up over the last few years, as well as looking towards the future at what he might become, is extremely rewarding for me.

“I want him to be an upstanding young man who is full of integrity and keeps his word.

“Whatever he chooses to do professionally, I want him be excellent at that.”

Pastor Smith has watched as Zamauri’s concentration has developed and his grades have improved.

“Right now he is an A and B student — that’s something his mother is very proud of,” he said.

“So just watching him develop and become the kind of outstanding young man I know he can be is wonderful.

“We hope it continues and even improves as time goes on.”

Pastor Smith said it was important for him to become a volunteer, despite having a busy schedule.

“I decided to sign up for the programme seeing the need in the community and just reflecting on my own life,” he said.

“I had five brothers who were older than me and a father, so six men in my life. I guess you could say I was blessed with a good family structure.

“But I recognise there are many young men who don’t have brothers or fatherly figures, so I wanted to do what I could to help.”

Boys need male role models, Pastor Smith said.

“That void can’t be filled by aunties or cousins or even mothers,” he said. “They need males in their lives to show them how to be teenagers and how to grow up into manhood and be good citizens, husbands and eventually fathers one day.

“Men need to be able to show the males how to treat women in their lives and how to respect authority and things like that.

“I feel strongly that male mentors are so needed in this day and time.”

His advice to anyone hesitant about volunteering is to just do it.

“There is a tremendous need for men — mature, disciplined and faithful men — to sacrifice some of their time to mentor young boys in this community,” he said.

“I encourage them to get involved and believe that it will pay dividends down the road.

“We don’t invest today and reap the benefits tomorrow. The investment has to mature, but you start seeing those dividends early on.

“For me it has been five years with Zamauri, but I’m looking forward to being in his life for life. I hope that when he turns 18 and thinks about going off to college we will be sending off a young man that’s ready, and that it will have been time well spent.”

Pastor Smith said he felt humbled to have been selected out of a large pool of great volunteers.

“I know they didn’t just pull a name from a hat,” he said. “They took a careful look at your involvement in the young person’s life.”

Ms Rowe, 25, said she was very excited to have been chosen as Big Sister of the Year.

“For me it just feels like having an actual little sister, which is nice,” she said.

“We are pretty close and it’s also great knowing that I am able to do something for someone else.

“It means a lot to be part of her life. I am always trying to be as much of a positive role model as I can. I try to do and say the right things so that it helps her figure out the best way to go.”

• The public is invited to attend today’s presentation at 12.30pm on the steps of City Hall.