Our Participation in the "Mentoring under Construction" Training Course
22-26 June 2026 | St. Pölten, Austria
Between 22 and 26 June 2026, Ada Çelen Dilmen represented our organisation at the international Mentoring under Construction training course organised by SALTO in St. Pölten, Austria. The training brought together youth workers, mentors, project coordinators, and representatives of support organisations from across Europe to exchange experiences, strengthen mentoring practices, and promote more inclusive European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects.
Throughout the programme, participants explored the concept of Reinforced Mentorship, which focuses on providing personalised and meaningful support to volunteers, particularly those with fewer opportunities. Through interactive workshops, peer-learning sessions, simulations, and case studies, the training addressed topics such as mentoring relationships, emotional well-being, safeguarding, intercultural communication, conflict prevention, learning support, and the role of mentoring in creating safe and inclusive volunteering environments.
A significant part of the programme was dedicated to the newly developed Mentoring Competence Framework, which defines the key competences, responsibilities, and focus areas of mentors within the European Solidarity Corps while providing practical guidance for both new and experienced mentoring practitioners.
Participants also worked with two important publications that will continue to support the development of quality mentoring and volunteer support within ESC projects:
Reinforced Mentorship: Zooming in on Creating Inclusive Environments in European Solidarity Corps Projects
*Guide for Support Organisations within the European Solidarity Corps*
The knowledge, practical methods, and international perspectives gained during the training will contribute to improving mentoring practices within our organisation and strengthening the quality, accessibility, and inclusiveness of our future European Solidarity Corps projects. We are pleased to bring these experiences back to our local community and to continue supporting young people through more effective and participant-centred mentoring approaches.
