Mentor Hub
Welcome to the Mentor Hub, your go-to space for everything you need to guide and inspire young environmentalists. Whether you’re new to mentoring or have supported YEA projects before, this hub provides tools, resources, and tips to help you make the biggest impact.
What is a mentor?
A mentor in the Young Environmentalist Awards is someone who supports and guides young people as they plan and deliver their environmental projects. A mentor can be a teacher, youth worker, community leader, parent, or any trusted adult who is willing to encourage, advise, and provide a sounding board. Mentors don’t complete the project for the group instead, they create the space for participants to build skills, gain confidence, and take the lead.
The role of mentor
- Supporter – Encourage young people, recognise their efforts, celebrate small wins, and help them stay motivated when challenges arise.
- Guide – Share experience, ask good questions, and help groups think critically about their project without taking over decision-making.
- Connector – Point participants toward useful resources, introduce them to contacts, or highlight opportunities in their school, community, or beyond.
- Role Model – Demonstrate commitment, teamwork, and environmental responsibility through your own actions and approach.
Why mentoring matters
- Confidence building – Young people grow in self-belief when they know someone is there to support and encourage them.
- Stronger projects – With a mentor’s guidance, ideas become more focused, plans more realistic, and goals more achievable.
- Essential support – Mentors are the backbone of the programme, providing the day-to-day guidance that helps participants stay motivated and on track.
- Shared learning – Mentors often gain as much as the young people, discovering new perspectives, ideas, and approaches along the way.
- Real impact – Together, mentors and participants create projects that make a difference in schools, communities, and beyond.
Key resources to support you and your group
As you begin work on your Young Environmentalist Awards project, these resources will guide you from first idea to final presentation:
YEA 6-Steps-to-Success Manual – A practical framework to plan, organise, and deliver your project.
6-Steps-to-Success Online Course – A free step-by-step digital guide with activities and examples to support each stage.
Inspiration Pack – Don’t know where to get started, this resources is designed to spark creativity, ideas and help to research new topics.
Skills & Curriculum Links – Guidance on how YEA projects connect with classroom learning, subjects, and national curriculum frameworks. Along with an outline of the key skills participants will build.
Submission Guidelines & Judging Criteria – Everything you need to know to prepare and submit your project successfully.
YEA Mentor Support
We’re here to support mentors every step of the way. Take advantage of our monthly mentor support sessions and 1:1 check-ins for groups to get guidance, share ideas, and connect with the YEA team.
Join us online every month from 4:30–5:00 PM, with a different topic to help you along the journey.
Wednesday 28th September – Welcome & Kick-Off
Wednesday 15th October – What Makes a Great Project?
Wednesday 5th November – Turning Ideas into Action That Matters
Wednesday 3rd December – Supporting Young People Through Setbacks
Wednesday 14th January – Helping Young People Tell Their Story
Wednesday 4th February – Behind the Scenes: How Judging Works
*Links will be sent via email in advance but please reach out to us via yea@ecounesco.ie for details.
Mentor of the Year
We deeply appreciate the hard work and invaluable support of our mentors, whose guidance is central to the success of every project. To celebrate their dedication and impact, we present the Mentor of the Year Award, voted for by the young people themselves, recognising a mentor who has gone above and beyond in supporting their peers.