Empowering volunteers to take ownership of their learning and growth | Mentoring under Construction

As a mentor you probably have a lot of resources and tools to work with your volunteer(s). But what about resources and tools that volunteers can use independently to shape their volunteering journey and make the most out of their experience? Resources and tools that increase independence and spark self-agency?

In our last MeetUP “Resources and tools for volunteers in the mentoring relationship
(Mentoring under Construction MeetUP #6/2025)” we shared and explored resources and tools can you give to volunteers for their own use. We collected various resources and tools such as checklists, reflection questions, journal prompts, questionnaires, self-assessment tools, guidelines, journals and diaries.

You may find all examples and more detailed descriptions on this co-created toolbox here!

Let’s dive in some examples..

Tools for volunteers to enhance the mentoring process

The following tools aim at raising awareness about and improving the mentoring process.

• Preparing the first meeting with your mentor – This checklist help volunteers to prepare for the first meeting with you as a mentor. It’s about getting some clarity and supports getting the most out of the mentoring process.
• Volunteer Mentoring Expectations – This self-assessment tool is meant to help volunteers reflect on their needs, preferences and expectations towards mentoring. It will help start your mentoring relationship with honesty and clarity.
• Ideas for reflection questions after a mentoring meeting – This is a collection of questions to review the mentoring meetings. They help to improve mentoring conversations and therefore the learning and growth of your volunteer.
• Mid-term mentoring reflection tool – This tool invites the volunteer to reflect about the mentoring process. It supports identifying what has been helpful, what could be improved, and how both of you can make the most of the remaining time together.

Reflection question & journal prompts for self-mentoring

Reflection questions and journal prompts are valuable tools to spark a deeper review and thinking about one’s own volunteering experience. Such a reflection can be done by the volunteer or together with you as a mentor.

• Daily review – Three reflection questions for the end of the day, such as: What are you grateful for? What made you smile/happy? What did you do/manage well?
• Setting an intention – Setting an intention can be a powerful way to start the day, e.g. What is one thing I can do today to bring more energy to …, Today, I am showing up with … (three adjectives), What is one small, intentional step I can take today to align my actions with the vision I want for my volunteering journey?
• “Homework” – Questions or mini-tasks inbetween your mentoring meetings can inspire volunteers to ponder and to reflect more. Example: In a four week process mentoring conversations circled around self-confidence. Volunteers were encouraged to try out several things inbetween the meetings, e.g. one time they get a reflection question that helped them to become more aware of their strengths (Please observe and write down, what are you good at)
• Practising self-mentoring with GROWTH questions – A great way to practice using the GROW model is to address your own issues and challenges. You can practice on your own, get yourself “unstuck” and learn how to ask the most helpful questions: 1. Choose an issue or challenge that you are facing. 2. Go through the GROW framework step by step. 3. Try out different questions from the worksheet above and take notes of your answers. – Reflect on this experience and create a list of questions you would like to use in each step of the GROW framework. Source: Growing with GROW

Maps, cards & paths

Maps, cards and paths are various tools that help volunteers to better understand their experience and journey. Those tools are best introduced and maybe one time tried out together in a meeting. Afterwards volunteers can use them on their own.

• Dixit cards for reflection – Easy to use visualisation and various forms to implement.
• Cards of feelings and needs (by ARTE EGO Foundation in Poland and GrenzKultur/Cabuwazi in Germany) is a set of 256 cards that help acquiring and developing the ability to identify, express, interpret and reflect upon one’s own feelings and needs.
• River of Life – This tool uses river drawings to help learners reflect on and share personal experiences. Check out our MuC Podcast episode on this. More details about the method and the specific steps.
• Mapping the volunteers’ path: ACT is a tool that helps volunteers explore their journey, where they are now and where they want to be and what actions can close the gap.

Notebooks, journals & diaries

Notebooks, journals & diaries can support a deeper reflection about (past) experience and (future) intentions. The following two examples combine guided reflection and note-taking in an inspiring way:

• Volunteering notes is a beautifully designed notebook for journaling and reflections on various topics by Dagna Gmitrowicz
• Captain’s Log is a hands-on tool that could be easily adopted for volunteers. If offers learners an eye-catching and stimulating way of keeping track of their learning outcomes, according to the eight key competences

Toolbox: Empowering volunteers to take ownership of their learning and growth

You may find all resources and tools here on this padlet:

Empowering Volunteers: Resources and tools for volunteers in the mentoring relationship [padlet]

Padlet: https://padlet.com/mikimmig/MuCMeetUPVolTools

Your turn!

• What is one idea, one inspiration, one thing you take away for yourself from this blogpost?
• What are you going to try out with your volunteer?

Selected resources

Cards of feelings and needs by ARTE EGO Foundation in Poland and GrenzKultur / Cabuwazi in Germany

Growing with GROW: Guiding the learning journey with the GROW model | Mentoring under Construction

Rivers of Life | Mentoring under Construction Podcast

Volunteering Notes by Dagna Gmitrowicz

All other resources and tools mentioned you find here: Toolbox:Empowering Volunteers: Resources and tools for volunteers in the mentoring relationship [padlet]

Last visited: 24. September 2025