Mentorship for those who inspire Youth: How new youth workers are formed

She joined with a genuine desire to be close to young people and to recreate the atmosphere she grew up in - surrounded by teachers, learning materials, and people who educated with passion. Every day at the Center is different for her: workshops, discussions, volunteering activities, games, events.

“I chose to work at the Youth Center because I love being close to people and contributing to the growth and motivation of young people. I believe every young person has enormous potential, and our role is to offer the tools and encouragement they need. I’m inspired by their energy, their fresh ideas, and their desire to do meaningful things for the community,” she says.

The first months as a youth worker were for Maria a blend of emotion, discovery, and courage. New to the profession, she felt the need for real support - and the Youth Worker Development and Exchange Program, supported by UNFPA Moldova, came at exactly the right moment. From the beginning, the program offered her guidance, mentorship, and access to practical models. The initiative brought together 5 host Youth Centers and 5 experienced mentors who guided 10 interns through a process of professional development and exchange of good practices, helping improve the quality of youth work across the network.

“As an intern, I had the opportunity to learn directly from experienced people, to observe how activities for young people are planned and carried out. I took part in organizing activities, learned how to communicate more effectively, and how to work as part of a team. My mentors guided me step by step, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and helped me become more confident in my ideas. The most important thing I learned is that when you work with young people, you need patience, empathy, and the sincere desire to listen to them. This program motivated me to stay involved in the community and continue growing professionally.”

For five days, Maria visited the Ungheni Youth Center, where Dan Roșca was her mentor. She followed him through activities, asked questions, took notes, and observed. She understood how important organization is, how young people are involved in planning, and how a safe and motivating environment is created.

“My mentors guided me step by step, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and helped me become more confident in my ideas. The most important thing I learned is that when you work with young people, you need patience, empathy, and the sincere desire to listen to them. This program motivated me to continue staying active in the community and to grow professionally,” Maria explains.

As a mentor, Dan also had his share of positive challenges and shared how this experience taught him new things as well: “I learned to be flexible, to adapt to different situations, and together with Maria we explored topics and themes I hadn’t worked with before. We studied and analyzed real activities carried out at our Youth Center in Ungheni. My advice for youth workers at the beginning of their journey is to always be patient and persistent, because the youth sector is still developing in our country, and the most important thing is the young people themselves - staying focused on them is essential for any youth worker, regardless of experience.”

In addition to individual mentorship, Maria also took part in three study visits with the other interns, at the Youth Centers in Ungheni, Chișinău, and Taraclia. She saw how other centers operate, what methods they use, how they motivate young people, and what an engaged community looks like around a youth center. It was an intense experience that connected the interns and created a network of people who want to grow together.

The Youth Worker Development and Exchange Program was implemented by the MilleniuM Training and Development Institute, within the Joint Fund for Youth Empowerment and Youth Center Development in the Republic of Moldova, supported by the Ministry of Education and Research, the National Youth Agency, the Government of Switzerland, and UNFPA Moldova.