Hello again! What has happened since the last time I wrote here? Technically, not a lot. Each day feels similar to the others, and the workshop place doesn’t change, but there is something magical in that established routine, and the months leading up to the end of our volunteering. We can already feel in the air the excitement and sometimes sadness among the people we grew close with in the span of the last 9 months.

Mentoring is a key tool for guidance and knowledge transfer. However, when it relies solely on an informal relationship, it may lack effectiveness: unclear objectives, irregular exchanges, and limited impact. Structuring a mentoring program helps optimize the experience for both mentors and mentees by providing a clear framework, effective follow-up, and tangible results. How can spontaneous mentoring be professionalized? Discover the key steps to building a sustainable and impactful mentoring program.

Everything began when I found this project on the ESC portal and arrived in Latvia on the 15th of September. From day one, I had to start from scratch—learning how to work in a youth center, manage social media, and connect with local youth. It was all new to me, but somehow, it felt like I belonged there right away. Years ago, I was in Latvia for an Erasmus program in Latgale (Daugavpils); this time, I was exploring the beautiful western Zemgale region.