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Big Brothers help Little Brothers and vice versa, William Birdsall says

Before becoming a Big Brother, William Birdsall hadn't spent a lot of time with children.

He wondered if he'd be able to handle all of the situations that might arise and say the best thing in all of the conversations.

In the end, he decided that he needed to grow as a person and his Little Brother might help him achieve that, while he (William) would also help his Little Brother to learn from him.

The arrangement has worked out beautifully. William, 34, of St. Catharines, has been matched with 11-year-old Aly since July 2004.

He appreciates that Aly and his mother are flexible as to when he devotes time as a Big Brother. As well, he enjoys seeing life from a child's perspective again and helping Aly make strides in schoolwork, social skills and self-confidence.

It's a win-win relationship, with Aly showing improved concentration in school as well as improved social confidence, William says. And that's not to mention all the fun Aly has had with his Big Brother in activities ranging from swimming, fishing and rollerblading to sports, movies and computer games.

Married with a baby daughter and employed as a dental hygienist, William has this advice for potential Big Brothers: "Have patience with the children. Listen to them. We can all learn a lot from each other."