TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Denise De Stena
The training aimed to strengthen the role of mentoring in youth mobility programs, particularly within the European Solidarity Corps. It addressed the need for more structured and supportive mentoring systems for both volunteers and mentors, focusing on personal development, well-being, and the creation of adaptable mentoring strategies. The goal was to equip youth workers with tools to guide volunteers through meaningful learning paths, encouraging self-assessment and values-based mentoring.
The activity directly supported the mission of Strauss APS and other partner organizations to improve the quality and impact of their ESC projects, by investing in the people who support and mentor volunteers on a daily basis
The target group included youth workers, mentors, facilitators, and youth leaders involved in volunteering and mobility projects, especially those working within the ESC framework. Participants were either already active in mentoring or preparing to take on this role in their organizations.
The activity was international, with 28 participants from 14 countries: Denmark, Slovenia, Czechia, Spain, Estonia, Cyprus, Hungary, Greece, Türkiye, Germany, Lithuania, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Italy.
In this training, methods were chosen not only to explore mentoring from a theoretical point of view, but to bring out the lived experiences of participants and give space to self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and mutual learning.
We started from the personal, using memory-mapping, journaling, and guided self-reflection to explore how each of us relates to the role of mentor.
These individual processes were then expanded through group dynamics, where participants could exchange practices, challenges, and doubts in a safe, supportive space.
We worked a lot with:
- Mentoring role exploration through experiential activities and symbolic work (objects, metaphors, movement)
- Real-case discussions where participants brought concrete examples from their organizations and we worked through them collectively
- Small group sessions where tools and strategies were co-created based on what actually works in the field
- Visual and creative methods, such as drawing, body maps or constellation exercises, to bring out less-obvious insights
The atmosphere was built intentionally to be open and non-judgmental, where people could speak honestly, let go of “perfect answers”, and explore mentoring as a human, complex and evolving role.
Stronger network of mentors and youth workers across Europe
Practical tools and methods that participants could take home and adapt to their own contexts
Increased competence and confidence in mentoring volunteers, particularly in ESC settings
A clear shift in awareness about the importance of mentor well-being and structured support
The success was evident in the high level of engagement, the quality of exchanges between participants, and the feedback collected during final reflection sessions. Participants left with actionable plans to improve mentoring in their organizations.
Documentation and updates about the training are available via Strauss APS:
I worked as a full-time trainer during the entire training course. I was involved in:
Designing the learning flow and methodology
Facilitating sessions on mentoring practices, self-assessment, and values-based learning
Creating safe spaces for participants to share and reflect
Supporting both group dynamics and individual learning processes
I co-led the delivery of the program and took responsibility for holding space throughout the entire training, from preparation to evaluation.