WORCESTER, Mass. – Helder Machado was a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters for years. He never became a "big" because he thought he was too busy, but it was a conversation with his wife that changed his mind.

"She said, 'One of your personal goals is to make a difference, and how more of a difference can you make in somebody's life than being a big?" Machado said.

The nonprofit partners local youth facing adversity with adults in hopes of creating bonds.

What You Need To Know

  • Student Giovanni Koskie and his "big," Helder Machado, have teamed up for more than four years as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program

  • The nonprofit reaches children who are living in poverty, from single-parent households, or facing other types of adversity 

  • The program usually goes until the "littles" are 18, but the two say they have no intentions on cutting ties 

Growing up without a father figure in his life, Giovanni Koskie's mom decided to turn to the program for help. "Gio" was partnered with Machado at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"When I first heard about it, I was like, 'Oh, he's in his 50s. Ugh,'" Koskie joked. "But when I got to know him a little bit more, I learned how much more in common interest we had with each other."

Their interests were more alike than they both thought. The two meet often and rate pizza at local restaurants, visit local museums and take long fishing trips to decompress.

The nonprofit's name holds true. The two say they really are brothers.

"His giving nature," Koskie said about what sticks out about his big. "His kind attitude towards life and everyone in general."

"Most people think, I'm a retired military guy, so I'm very serious and very disciplined, which I am," Machado said. "But there's a fun side to me, and I think Gio gets to see that. We get to goof off and have fun together."

Gio's heading into his senior year at South High. In the midst of summer vacation, and on the cusp of the biggest year of his life, Machado says having someone to support him is crucial.

"We go for hikes, we've done different challenges like that," Machado said. "Sometimes we go out to eat. Sometimes, it's just like I said. Hanging out and just talking. I think it's really important to have that dialogue, which I think nowadays a lot of kids don't have."

The program usually goes until the littles are 18, but the two say they have no intentions on cutting ties any time soon. 

In the last four years, Gio has gone from groaning at the thought of hanging out with Machado, to calling it one of the most special relationships in his life.

"He's practically family to me and my family at this point, which is a very special bond between me, him and my family," Gio said.