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climate change Mentoring Minds RHEA KOTHARI on how AndREw HEInRIcH and Project Rousseau help students to grow "With enough leverage, a fnger could overturn the world; but to support the world, one must have the shoulders of Hercules." Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract 14 | SUMMER 2013 | FAIRWEATHER therapists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals. "The students feel comfortable telling their mentors about just about everything,'' noted Heinrich. "When there is a problem outside of school that needs to be addressed, our mentors fnd out about it.'' Project Rousseau is expanding, with chapters at the University of Colorado, the University of Texas, the University of Florida, Harvard University, Northwestern University, New York University, Rhodes College, Virginia Union University, Baylor University and Vanderbilt University. It also has an exchange program with Copenhagen, and a pen-pal program with China. "We strongly believe that all types of new experiences, no matter how academic, contribute to our students' development,'' said Heinrich. "They grow more comfortable leaving their home environments and they gain self-confdence.'' Project Rousseau founder Andrew Heinrich teaching a vocabulary class. couRtesy of PRoject Rousseau Project Rousseau, a not-for-proft organization that pairs volunteer mentors with underprivileged high school students, is providing strong shoulders as stepping-stones to academic, social and career success. "Project Rousseau is unique because of our holistic approach,'' said founder and recent Columbia University graduate Andrew Heinrich. "Academic problems rarely have academic causes, so we work on all of the sources of their academic needs.'' Project Rousseau does everything from teaching students to read, write, and speak English, to preparing them for college and job interviews. Heinrich explained that he has been working with companies like Application Development Initiative, which provided a grant for Project Rousseau to redesign its website. Facebook staf has met with Project Rousseau's students in the social media giant's New York ofces and Project Rousseau's Facebook page has more than 600 followers. "The bonds that our students have with their mentors is our most valuable tool in helping them succeed,'' said Heinrich, noting that Rousseau's scope recently expanded to include community service opportunities, feld trips, and special events. Students also visit museums, host panel discussions and go to professional sporting events. "The most striking lesson I have learned in my experience with Project Rousseau is the impact that one hour of speaking with a group of students can have on the students' lives.'' Heinrich said Project Rousseau also provides students with drug and alcohol education and relies on an extensive network of