At the end of a two-day workshop held on 5-6 December 2025, Youth Lab mentors developed a Mentors’ Manifesto, setting out shared values and principles to guide their work in supporting meaningful, youth-centred participation across Georgia.

The workshop, “Building Sustainable Mentorship - From Practice to System”, was organised by the Council of Europe and brought together mentors from the Youth Labs initiative. Youth Labs support young people across different regions of Georgia to collaborate on issues such as civic participation, equality, inclusion, and community well-being, with mentors playing a key role in guiding and empowering youth-led initiatives.

During the workshop, mentors strengthened their capacity to support young people working on democracy and human rights at local level. Through practical, case-based discussions, they explored ethical standards, confidentiality, intersectionality, and human rights principles essential for mentoring in diverse local contexts. Participants also tested innovative tools designed to help them navigate real-life dilemmas while ensuring safe and empowering learning environments.

Mentors further contributed to the development of the Youth Labs Mentorship Toolkit, a forthcoming resource aimed at systematising mentoring practices and providing practical, adaptable tools. Participants shared insights on the structure and content of the toolkit, underlining the importance of reflecting local realities and strengthening the sustainability of youth-led initiatives.

Mentors reported that the workshop significantly enhanced their confidence and practical skills, offering tools they can directly apply in their work with young people. As a pioneering model for structured and sustainable youth mentorship, the workshop highlighted the value of peer exchange in reinforcing inclusive, human rights-based mentoring within the Youth Labs and beyond.

This activity was organised in the framework of the Project „Advancing Participatory and Human Rights-based Local Democracy in Georgia” implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027, with the support of International Partnerships Austria.