Then there are those like Hina Joshi who seek out organizations that focus on children, because they inherently know how important it is to be there for a child.

Before she moved to California, Hina Joshi used to visit an orphanage in her native India to give the children there some one-on-one time with an adult.

Through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Clara County, Joshi is creating a similar relationship with Maria, a student at Blackford Elementary School in Willow Glen. At the request of the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, Maria's last name is being withheld to protect her privacy.

On Thursdays after school, Joshi, 24, meets Maria to play games, help with homework or just hang out and talk. The pair is one of nine such matches at the school that is facilitated by Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"My husband's friend used to be a Big Brother, and he told me lots of wonderful things" about the program, Joshi said. "The main reason I volunteer is that I like being around kids. I like getting to know the 'littles' and working with them."

Joshi was paired with Maria last October through Big Brothers Big Sisters' school-based mentoring program. The organization established the program in the Campbell School District in 2001. Big Brothers and Sisters meet with their "littles" on campus in a group setting but also have the chance to get to know each other as individuals.

"The goal of the program is to create positive one-on-one contact" for the children, said program coordinator Elise Sloan. "It's an opportunity for them to form a consistent friendship on familiar ground."

Joshi said she's seen the program's positive impact on Maria. "She had a hard time last year. She's gotten used to being around me, so that's a big achievement," she added. "She's a very quiet kid. In the beginning she didn't talk much. Since we've gotten to know each other, she's opened up and she smiles a lot more."

Potential "bigs" must be at least 16 years old to participate in the school-based program, while "littles" must be at least 6 years old.

Sloan said many "littles" are referred by teachers, but some students ask to be in the program. "It's really common for kids to come from single-parent homes," she added. "We match based on the needs of the child and the interests of the 'big.'"

Blackford fourth-grader Alma said she and her Big Sister, Lisa Miller, both enjoy outdoor activities such as playing handball.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Clara County holds volunteer orientations on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 1101 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite M-254, San Jose. For more information, call 408.244.1911 or log on to http://www.bbbs.scc.org.