Mentors Adventure in EVS Land

The main themes of the project are mentoring of EVS volunteers and more specifically the role of mentor in guiding the volunteer through self-directed learning, supporting his/her ICL process and providing him/her emotional support. Apart from the residential training course, for the preparation and follow up of the training the on-line platform will be used in order to facilitate further learning and support of the participants. The on-line platform will be very important in visibility and dissemination of results of the project, as it will be open to all interested organizations and individuals in the follow up stage of the project. The E-manual will be created during the project. It will be based on the outcomes of the training, focusing on the main themes explored and will give added value in promotion and dissemination of results of the project. Objectives We believe that the role of mentor is very important, if not crucial, in supporting the volunteer in his/her learning process, adaptation to the local environment and for personal and emotional support. We also recognised the need for training and on-going support for mentors in their every-day work with volunteers. Therefore the overall aim of the project is to ensure the quality of future EVS projects implemented in partnerships with organisations from EU, SEE and EEC countries. Specific objectives are: • To build capacities of 24 mentors for leading the EVS volunteers through the process of intercultural learning, giving them emotional support and guiding their self-directed learning. • To provide space for partnership building between organisations from EU, SEE and EEC that would lead to new EVS projects. Capacity building of mentors that are supporting the volunteers through the process of learning, emotional growth and interculturality will result in implementation of higher quality EVS projects. Consequently, this will lead to the creation of support systems within the organizations that are open for and capable to deal with EVS challenges. By increasing intercultural sensitivity of mentors they are becoming capable to guide EVSers through their ICL processes in order to open them for cultural diversities and enable understanding between young people in different countries. Through possibility to work on particular EVS projects during TC and by creation of an online platform the ground for long lasting partnerships at the European level will be set. EVS experience which is influencing personal growth and development of young people is promoting the volunteering itself, on international but also local level and fostering participation of youth in different fields.