i have been to the irc channel a couple of times. every time i could find many people willing to help me. so it only takes the willingness to learn how to use irc.
maybe the existence of the irc channel need to be promoted. i guess many newbies don't know there is one.
a mentor program asks a lot from the willing mentor, as he is somehow the only responsible person to help with a problem. i think the power of the net is that everyone can donate what he/she knows.
i think i'm far away to qualify as a mentor, but yet i can help here and there with simple questions.