During August 2021 we had a chance to participate in a mentor training in Poland. As a person who had worked with volunteers from other countries I became also a buddy for them. So I had to use some mentoring skills that I didn’t know I had and this gave me the opportunity improve myself. Studying psychology and also being participated in volunteering projects made me realize that I really like the mentoring position. We flew to Poland without having many clues of what the training will be. When we got there we met people all from all around the Europe in different age before the training begin. I had never been participated in another training with Erasmus+ project so it was strange for me meeting people so different than me. That scared me at first because I was shy but this wasn’t a problem eventually. The trainers were really friendly from the beginning and that he made me realize that this was just a school class but something more. The training was really interesting since the first moment. We started by getting to know each other and spend almost a day on these Activities which made me fell more of myself. AlI the schedule and the activities were really well prepared and organized and that made me not to get bored at any point. I learned not only the way to be a mentor but also the advantages of Being a volunteer, traveling all around countries, meeting new people and also help others. We got some really important tools with us to use as mentors, coaching skills, Games and activities (for example ice breaking games, evaluation activities, self reflection tools and organizing tools as well). What I liked the most in the training was the informal learning that the trainers used during the whole week. I now realize that even though I didn’t got tired to learn all these tools and skills, I remember almost everything and I use them in my every day life, which is a gift for me.
That week was not only a training course but also an experience in Warsaw. We had the chance to meet the city, try the best food and have fun all together! We were an amazing team who became friends and enjoyed to spend time all together during not only to the courses, but also after this. The coordinator from the Polish organization was amazing. A really kind woman who helped us in everything we needed. She arranged for us the best places to visit and spent the few free time we had the best way.
To sum up, the mentor training in Warsaw was great! It was my first training, I have nothing to compare but I wouldn’t change anything in the schedule. The only thing I would change is that I would add an extra day to visit the city during the day.
Aphrodite