‘Vegan Mentor Program’ Helps Teens Fight Injustice Three Times a Day

For Immediate Release:
February 21, 2017

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Young people have always demanded answers to important questions—and today, they want to know how they can fight injustice, stop the planet from being destroyed, and save animals’ lives. That’s why peta2—PETA’s youth division—has launched a Vegan Mentor Program that gives teens the answers to burning questions like “How do I go vegan if my parents aren’t supportive?” and “How can I eat vegan at school?”

In the program, mentees are paired with mentors who offer personalized, one-on-one guidance with shopping, cooking, and dining—from dinners out with the family to dorm room staples. Hundreds of high school and college students have already signed up and started learning about the vegan options that are now available everywhere, even at convenience stores like 7-Eleven and fast-food and chain restaurants like Taco Bell, Denny’s, The Cheesecake Factory, and Starbucks.

“When so many young people are feeling powerless in the face of all the injustice in the world, peta2’s Vegan Mentor Program is equipping teens to fight cruelty by going vegan,” says peta2 Senior Director Marta Holmberg. “All of us can make the world a kinder place simply by choosing soy milk instead of cow’s milk and ordering a vegan slice at the local pizzeria.”

Early testimonials from the program reveal that it’s already a huge hit. Eighteen-year-old Taylor says, “Having a mentor is like having someone to catch you when you fall. They’re there to help you when you need it, and provide guidance and reassurance that your journey can be successful and fulfilling!” Fourteen-year-old Maddi adds that her mentor has helped her “explain to my family that this is the lifestyle I have chosen and I don’t wish to hurt animals for my own being.”