The idea of “ABC ON VOLUNTEERING MENTORSHIP, Training Course for newcomers!” comes from a detected problem in the “On Arrival” and “midterm” EVS Trainings evaluations around Europe. Most of the EVS mentors have a big mobility and not a long continuation in their role as mentors. Sometimes they are just volunteers with almost no link to the organization and no awareness about Erasmus+ program.
This situation make that the organizations have to change often the mentors, and they don’t have time, and sometimes knowledge about the competences required in an EVS mentor.
Most of them, already with experience, don’t know exactly which are their function, and many volunteer complain about the lack of support during their projects, not because their mentors are not nice people, just because are not prepared to help them in the learning process, Youthpass, conflict resolution, linguistic platform, etc.

“ABC on Volunteering mentorship in Erasmus+!” is an opportunity for volunteering hosting/sending organizations to train their mentors (or potential), offering the basic learning for mentoring volunteering project (preparation, implementation & follow up phases), aiming to develop their knowledge and skills to better support volunteers and learning process, under Erasmus+ programme.
During the TC participants will learn more about Erasmus + programme, roles of the different key stakeholders on a volunteering project, in special, the role of the mentor, the knowledge and skills needed, how to support the learning process, tips to solve problems, etc
Participants will reflect about their own work and will exchange experiences with each other, creating as an outcome a “support network” that will go on after the end of the TC.

Objectives
– To offer the newcomers mentors a practical and theoretical experience on mentorship.
– To understand the Volunteering Chart and the roles of the different stakeholders in the volunteering projects, within Erasmus +
– To develop knowledge and skills to support volunteers, namely the learning processes
– To discover different types of mentoring
– Get answers to technical / practical issues
– Meet good practices and exchange experiences
– Exchange contacts a create possible new partnerships
– Create a support group (network)

Methodology
The programme will be structured with a balanced combination of introductory plenary discussions, round tables, exchange of experiences, lectures and working groups.
The use of non-formal education methodologies will ensure the active participation of all individuals involved. Working groups and active methods will be also used in order to create an environment that encourages a dynamic involvement of all participants. The diversity of approaches will be used in order to addresses the group various ways to better engage and contribute to the discussed topics.
The presence of experienced facilitators during the all programme will definitely contribute to create a productive and efficient working environment to enable the participants to take the best out of the working days.

Group size: 24 participants
– More than 18 years old; no age limit
– Able to communicate in English
– Representing organisations newcomers on volunteering activities
– Starting or will start soon to work as volunteer mentors
– Would like to improve knowledge and skills as volunteer’s mentor to support European volunteers and learning process.
– Open to learn and share experiences