Training for Mentors 2

What is the course about?

The course explores the role of mentors in European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering projects and highlights the important contribution mentoring makes to the overall quality of the volunteering experience.

Mentoring is an essential form of personal support for all participants involved in volunteering activities. As outlined in the European Solidarity Corps Programme Guide, every young volunteer should have access to appropriate and meaningful mentoring support throughout their experience.

For this reason, the course places particular emphasis on developing mentors’ competences through interactive learning, reflection, exchange of experiences, and peer-to-peer learning.

Aim

The main aim of the training course is to strengthen participants’ mentoring competences through interactive activities, peer-to-peer learning, exchange of practices, and reflection, contributing to improved quality in European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects.

Objectives

The training course aims to:

Develop a deeper understanding of the volunteering strand of the European Solidarity Corps Programme and create a shared understanding of the key quality aspects of ESC volunteering projects.

Provide a supportive space for participants to exchange good practices, experiences, challenges, and different realities related to mentoring in volunteering projects.

Strengthen participants’ mentoring competences in areas such as learning guidance and facilitation, communication and active listening, goal setting, and progress monitoring, thereby enhancing the quality and effectiveness of their mentoring role.

Explore, exchange, and practise useful methods, tools, and resources that can be applied in different mentoring contexts.

Encourage participants to reflect on their own mentoring approach and identify opportunities for further personal and professional development.

Methodology

The educational activity will take the form of a three-day residential training course based on non-formal and experiential learning methods. Participants will be actively involved through practical exercises, group activities, discussions, reflection sessions, and peer-to-peer learning.

The course builds on the experience and success of previous online editions delivered through the HOP Online Learning Platform, bringing the learning experience into a residential setting that allows for deeper interaction, networking, and exchange among participants.

Participants’ Profile

The training course is open to people with either basic or advanced experience in volunteering projects within the European Solidarity Corps Programme.

It is particularly suitable for current or prospective mentors, as well as individuals involved in supporting ESC volunteers, who are highly motivated to develop their mentoring skills, exchange experiences with others, and improve the quality of the support they provide to young volunteers.

Previous extensive mentoring experience is not required; what matters most is participants’ motivation to learn, reflect, contribute, and further develop their mentoring capacity