BoT Train the Mentor: A New Curriculum for Youth Mentorship

In a major step toward youth inclusion and social reintegration, the Back on Track project has launched its Train the Mentor Curriculum — a hands-on, comprehensive training programme aimed at professionals working with NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training), especially in rural areas of the Danube Region.

With NEET youth facing a wide range of social, economic, and psychological barriers, the need for skilled, empathetic mentors has never been more urgent. This newly developed curriculum provides essential guidance and tools to help youth workers, trainers, and volunteers deliver personalised support and, more importantly, to build trusting relationships that can change lives.

What is Inside the Curriculum?

Structured across six practical modules, the curriculum covers every stage of the mentoring journey, from initial engagement to long-term empowerment:

1. Understanding NEET backgrounds and barriers

2. Building trust and effective communication

3. Providing individualised support and fostering resilience

4. Goal-setting, action planning, and tracking progress

5. Connecting to local and digital resources

6. Promoting digital inclusion and job-readiness

Each module is designed to be accessible, interactive, and easy to adapt to diverse mentoring contexts. It blends theory with real-world practice, offering pre- and post-module quizzes, case studies based on true stories, and interactive role-play exercises to simulate real mentoring challenges.

Designed by Experts, Tested on the Ground

The mentoring programme was co-created and piloted by project partners across Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This collaborative, cross-border approach ensured that the curriculum reflects the realities and needs of NEET youth across different socio-economic and cultural contexts.

Why It Matters

Effective mentoring can be a game-changer, not just for finding a job or entering training, but for rebuilding confidence, setting life goals, and feeling part of a community again. The Train the Mentor Curriculum does not just help mentors "teach" or "advise". It empowers them to listen, understand, and walk alongside young people as they shape their own futures.

By providing practical strategies and structured support, the curriculum helps mentors guide NEET youth on their journey back into education, employment, or training, all while strengthening digital skills and emotional resilience.