Modulo4_KHEIRON_EN

Active roleofmentors inprogramme sustainability In addition to the internal community, mentors can actively contribute to sustaining and growing the mentoring programme in several ways: Act as ambassadors for the programme: Satisfied mentors are often the best promoters. You can spread the word about the initiative in your social or professional circle, encouraging more people to volunteer or companies/organisations to support it. Sharing success stories (while respecting confidentiality) also helps to highlight the value of the project in the community. The more external support and new volunteers the programme receives, the more sustainable it will be in the long term. Peer mentoring: As you gain experience, you can mentor new mentors. This takes the pressure off coordinating staff and makes the most of your practical knowledge. For example, you could volunteer to guide two or three newcomers during their first few months, acting as a point of reference for their questions. This horizontal hierarchy enriches everyone: you reinforce your knowledge by teaching, newcomers receive personalised support, and the programme retains senior talent. Some organisations even implement a ‘cascade model’ where experienced mentors train the next generation, thus institutionalising knowledge transfer and ensuring that the programme's legacy continues even if the staff changes. Developing materials and activities: If you have particular skills (writing, teaching, design, etc.), you could contribute by creating resources for the programme. For example, you could develop an action plan template for mentees, design a short handbook of tips for future mentors, or propose and organise a themed workshop (e.g., “how to handle common conflicts in teen mentoring”). Volunteers often bring valuable professional experience with them; putting this at the service of the programme strengthens it without incurring additional costs. Innovating from within – trying out new tools, dynamics, complementary activities – keeps the programme up to date and adaptable. Commitment to quality and ethics: A mentor committed to sustainability also cares about the ethical quality of their mentoring. This means always respecting the guidelines (privacy, not creating dependencies, focusing on empowering the mentee, etc.), seeking help when situations are beyond their control (for example, if the mentee needs psychological counselling), and reporting any serious incidents. Maintaining the programme's reputation and good results in the long term depends on all mentors acting responsibly. A scandal or poorly handled problem can threaten the continuity of the project (loss of trust from funders, etc.). Therefore, your role includes being a guardian of good practices. 13 Evaluación del impacto y sostenibi l idad de la mentoría