A transnational cooperation partnership developing a practical methodology and resource-filtering system for youth workers – combining facilitation, coaching and mentoring into one structured, adaptable framework.
About this project
EducatorsLab was an Erasmus+ KA210 Small-Scale Cooperation Partnership between Stichting Breekjaar (Netherlands, lead), Synchro Foundation (Netherlands), and Innovation Education Lab (Romania). In this project, we noticed that youth workers across Europe lack a clear, structured methodology for combining the three roles they regularly occupy – facilitator, coach, and mentor – and struggle to identify which resources are genuinely useful for the young people they work with.
The project set out to solve this through two interconnected outputs: a needs-based resource-filtering system with 10 clear criteria for selecting high-quality materials, and a comprehensive Methodology Guideline that shows youth workers how to integrate facilitation, coaching and mentoring in a structured, adaptable way. These were then tested in a 3-day pilot training in Amsterdam with 12 youth workers, who applied the methodology in their organisations for one month before providing feedback that shaped the final version.
Axolotl’s Toni Lyubenova designed the methodology and the training in Amsterdam – creating the core methodology, designing the written concept of it, producing the video series explaining both, and designing and delivering the pilot training including dedicated sessions for facilitators.
What we delivered
One project, several layers
01
Designed the intermodal methodology combining facilitation, coaching and mentoring for youth work – the core intellectual output of the project
02
Designed the practical logic for youth workers to evaluate and select educational materials based on the 3 axis model
03
Created a video series explaining the methodology and resource-filtering system, produced for use by youth workers and partner organisations across Europe
04
Designed and co-facilitated the 3-day pilot training for 12 youth workers in Amsterdam, including session structure, learning outcomes, and facilitation methodology
05
Participated in project management meetings throughout the partnership, contributing to quality assurance and peer review processes
Methods used
The EducatorsLab methodology is built on the insight that youth workers occupy three distinct but overlapping roles – facilitator, coach, and mentor – and that the quality of their work depends on knowing when and how to move between them. The methodology provides a step-by-step framework grounded in needs analysis: starting from the specific context and target group, it guides youth workers through selecting appropriate resources, designing tailored activities, and adapting their approach to different backgrounds and challenges.
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Intermodal methodology design
Facilitation
Coaching
Mentoring
Training for trainers
Experiantial learning
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Project partners
| Stichting Breekjaar (Netherlands) | Lead applicant · Project coordination · Timeline management · Pilot testing |
| Synchro Foundation (Netherlands) | Methodology development · Training facilitation · Dissemination |
| Innovation Education Lab | Needs analysis · Resource-filtering system · Infographics · Quality assurance |
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Project Team
| Methodology designer & co-facilitator | Toni Lyubenova (Axolotl) |
| Project supervisor & coordinator | Cristina Pavel (Synchro Foundation) |
| System for resources developer and coordinator | Veronica Niste, Ana Georgescu (Innovation Education Lab) |
| Coordination lead | Emilie Terwiel (Stichting Breekjaar) |
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Deliverables
- A complete resource-filtering system with 10 criteria and structured categories – used by all partner organisations
- A comprehensive Methodology Guideline integrating facilitation, coaching and mentoring – open-access and freely reusable
- A video series explaining the methodology and resource-filtering system – published and shared across partner networks
- Visual infographics summarising the needs analysis – making research accessible to non-specialist youth workers
- 12 youth workers trained across a 3-day pilot training, followed by one month of real-world implementation
- 8 local dissemination events organised by partner organisations across their home communities
- All outputs published under open licence and shared on partner platforms, Erasmus+ PRP, and EPALE
- Several organisations outside the consortium expressed interest in adopting the system and methodology
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