The activity series “Making Magic in the Kingdom of Volunteering” is part of a broader cooperation between organisations across Europe, aimed at enhancing the quality of volunteering projects under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), as well as other schemes and local initiatives. These efforts are coordinated by an informal group known as “The Constellation”, which is described in another section of this report. Driven by our commitment to creating high-quality volunteering experiences, we defined the following objectives, all of which were addressed through the activities implemented: Objective 1: Recognition of Youth Work We aim to promote and raise awareness of the essential role and value of youth workers and youth work within the EU, with a particular focus on the ESC programme. Objective 2: Improving the Quality of Volunteering Projects We strive to enhance the quality of volunteering project implementation, thereby enriching the life experiences of young volunteers. Special focus is placed on volunteer management, the role of mentors, and the inclusion of young people—whether as volunteers, mentors, project coordinators, or support staff. Objective 3: Promoting Non-Formal Education We promote non-formal education methodologies among both young people and adults, as a powerful tool for personal and professional development. These objectives were embedded in the design and delivery of all activities, with a strong emphasis on the mentoring process—a crucial element of quality volunteering projects that directly impacts the well-being and growth of volunteers. Since 2014, mentoring, together with the motivation of volunteers, has remained a central area of focus in our organisational development efforts. This work has been further reinforced through our collaboration with the organisation EJBW in Weimar, with whom we co-develop training programmes that align with the above objectives. These programmes offer both participants and organisations valuable opportunities to build knowledge, gain experience, and strengthen capacity through a structured sequence of activities. Our goal was to deliver a high-quality training series within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme, supporting the systems of both Erasmus+ and the ESC. This approach has led to tangible benefits for participants and especially for organisations, many of whom have returned repeatedly to our trainings, ensuring continuity and immediate impact in their ESC project implementation. Emphasis on Youth Work Recognition (Objective 1) We placed particular emphasis on recognising the work of youth workers in the field of non-formal learning. This was supported through the promotion of the Youthpass and the ETS Competence Framework for Youth Workers, increasing awareness among both participants and organisations. All 74 participants involved in our activities were invited to complete their details and receive a Youthpass certificate. Improving Volunteering Management (Objective 2) Our recent accreditation focused on improving volunteering management practices, catering to both newcomers and experienced stakeholders in ESC projects. We also engaged with former volunteers to reflect on their project experiences and identify key areas for improvement. A recurring insight was that the mentoring process remains under-supported and is inconsistently understood and implemented. In response, we developed targeted activities to build a support system for current and future mentors. These activities provided an opportunity to explore the mentor’s role in supporting both the well-being and learning journey of the volunteer. Key activities included: MENTORS TRAINING I – 20–27 January 2024 in Lefkosia, Cyprus MENTORS TRAINING II – 12–18 April 2024 in Weimar, Germany PEER-TO-PEER FOR MENTORS IN ESC – 11–16 December 2024 in Lefkosia, Cyprus (planned follow-up) COMPETENCE FRAMEWORK FOR MENTORING AND BEYOND – 22–24 May 2025 in Bucharest, Romania (further explained later in this report) Promotion of Non-Formal Learning (Objective 3) All of our activities were grounded in non-formal learning principles. The design centred on the participants’ learning journey, encouraging active engagement in every stage of the process. Content and methodology were aligned to foster personal reflection, self-awareness, and the development of key competences. Ample time was dedicated in each activity for personal reflection and the documentation of individual learning processes. Clear guidelines were provided, based on the ETS Key Competences for Youth Workers and the Youthpass, to help participants track and articulate their development.