MP4 Mentors concludes its international journey by strengthening mentorship in volunteering

–MP4 Mentors enhances volunteering mentorship through a guide, a MOOC, and an international study

–The final conference in Sweden brought together key actors to present results, share experiences, and discuss the current challenges and opportunities in volunteering across Europe

MP4 mentors | Group photo of partner organizations during the final conference held in Stockholm

After two years of joint work, the European project has trained and empowered mentors and volunteer coordinators through innovative and multilingual resources.

The European project MP4 Mentors, funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, has come to an end after two years of intense collaboration between five countries: Sweden, Austria, Spain, Cyprus, and Romania. From the beginning, its goal was clear: to strengthen the skills and attitudes of those who support and coordinate volunteering processes. This has been achieved through innovative training, international research, and a compilation of best practices that offer a renewed vision of volunteering in Europe.

One of the main milestones has been the development of an online learning platform (MOOC), translated into the languages of all partner countries. This open resource offers key tools for mentors and coordinators to build meaningful and transformative relationships with volunteers. Alongside this platform, the Guide for Mentoring and Coordinating Volunteering has also been published in five languages and is freely available on the project website: mp4mentors.eu.

The project also produced an international study on the state of volunteering, highlighting that the main motivations for getting involved in such activities are the acquisition of knowledge and altruism. Beyond social commitment, volunteering stands out as a key tool for personal and professional development. This trend is reinforced by the 23 best practice experiences gathered during the project, many of which focus on vulnerable communities, digital inclusion, or programmes with a strong intercultural dimension.

Training, motivation and best practices: key elements to strengthen volunteering in Europe

MP4 Mentors’ journey concluded with dissemination events in each participating country during the first months of 2025, attended by over 160 people, and a final conference held in Sweden. These meetings served to share learnings, present the developed resources, and discuss the challenges and opportunities of mentorship in the field of volunteering.

MP4 Mentors has not only generated practical tools, but also promoted deep reflection on the role of volunteering in our societies and on how to better support those who make it possible.

Although the project officially ends in June 2025, its legacy remains available to all social organizations, civic platforms, and change-makers who wish to promote more effective, human, and transformative volunteering programmes through the project website: mp4mentors.eu

The MP4 Mentors project is an international initiative supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. Its aim is to improve the skills and attitudes of volunteer mentors and coordinators in the five partner countries: Sweden, Austria, Spain, Cyprus, and Romania.