ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety is mentoring youth this summer through its Mentorship Matters program.
"It's just trying to get that village feel to come back," said Corporal Devon Gilmore.
Gilmore said he's using his role as a law enforcement officer to become part of the children's village. Through the program, the department offers guidance to help young people make better decisions.
It's offered to children between 10 and 13 and tackles various topics, from cyberbullying to self-esteem.
"Eighty percent of our campers have, at one point in time, been bullied. So, we had other volunteers that were assisting us and we kind of realized of teaching them self-affirmations, being positive, and dealing with the challenge of bullying," said Corporal Jeffrey Rivas.
Other topics discussed include domestic violence and mental health. Law enforcement hopes to help guide them on the right path by making them aware of these issues.
"Sometimes it becomes an issue outside of school which then leads to criminal activity because they think, 'Hey, I now have to be attached to a gang,' or something else like that. So we're trying to prevent those things from happening," said Rivas.
The group has also taken field trips to the South Carolina State Museum and Eudora Farms to expose them to wildlife and nature. This fall, the department will serve local teens ages 14 to 16 through its Rose Academy in September.