On 20 and 21 May 2026, during two intensive afternoons from 4 pm to 7 pm, an enriching six-hour intensive workshop was held at the EVM Group offices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as part of the PIPE project (Programme of Inclusion for Migrant People at risk of social exclusion). The main purpose of this meeting was to train adult migrants to become future mentors in their communities, providing them with the tools to guide and support new arrivals in their own adaptation process.
The workshop was facilitated by Adelina Luntraru, of Romanian origin, who drew on her personal and professional experience to guide a small, diverse group of six participants from Cuba, Colombia, Gambia, Senegal and Ivory Coast. A huge added value of this workshop was that all six participants are already actively working in the field of migrant integration. This incredible mix of nationalities, professional backgrounds and life experiences deeply enriched the learning journey, fulfilling one of the workshop’s core objectives: to recognise each participant’s lived experience as their greatest asset and strength.
During the workshop, participants explored in depth the true role of a mentor, learning to set clear ethical boundaries to act as guides and support figures, without crossing the line into the role of therapist, social worker or simply a friend.
Through interactive activities and role-play, the group—comprising these six diverse voices—practised fundamental skills such as:
- Active listening and empathy: Learning to listen without interrupting or judging, paying attention to both the other person’s words and emotions.
- Fostering independence: Discovering how to ask reflective questions (such as “What options do you see?”) to prevent the mentee from becoming dependent, helping them to make their own decisions.
- Communication and Goals: Training in how to give constructive feedback using the SBI framework (Situation, Behaviour, Impact and Next Step) and how to set clear objectives using the SMART method.
One of the most enriching aspects of having a group of professionals with African, Latin American and Caribbean backgrounds was putting cultural awareness into practice in real time. Participants discussed how to manage misunderstandings arising from different cultural backgrounds, reaffirming a golden rule in mentoring: never make assumptions and always ask for the other person’s perspective (for example, by asking “How is this usually handled where you come from?”).
At the end of these six hours of training, the group not only gained theoretical knowledge but also took a major step towards creating a strong national network of mentors. These six people, who were once ‘newcomers’ themselves and who now dedicate their professional lives to community integration, are even better equipped to transform their experience into a bridge of inclusion and support for others.
