Scenario for Saboteur
There are four scenarios, each scenario contains some basic information of the mentee (adult learner from a fewer opportunity background) and the mobility program. This is the same information provided to the mentor and mentee.
As the Saboteur, you are given three additional “Saboteur’s Thoughts” that you can use to interrupt the conversation between the mentor and mentee. Remember, you can only talk and interact with the mentee.
Tom
Adult Learner:
- Name: Tom
- Age: 33
- Background:
Tom has a physical disability that affects his mobility and daily functioning. He has been out of work for several years due to health complications and is struggling with depression. Tom has always had a passion for photography but lacks the technical skills to make it a career. He wants to explore opportunities but feels overwhelmed by the demands of learning new things.
The Mobility Program:
- Program: EU Mobility Learning Program for Photography and Digital Arts
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Location: A partner city in Portugal (e.g., Lisbon)
- Overview:
The program offers photography workshops, digital editing skills, and guidance on building a portfolio. Tom sees this as a chance to build his skills and potentially transition into freelance photography, but he is unsure if he can handle the physical and mental demands of the program.
Saboteur’s Voice:
- Saboteur Thought: “You won’t be able to keep up with the others.” (
- Saboteur’s Voice: “How will you keep up with the others? They’ll all be moving fast and taking great photos, and you’ll be struggling just to keep up. It’s going to be too overwhelming for you.”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur amplifies Tom’s anxiety about not being able to meet the expectations of the program, especially physically and mentally, given his disability.
- Saboteur Thought: “Photography is a pipe dream. You’ll never make it.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “Photography is just a hobby, not a real career. You’ll never be able to make a living from it. You should just focus on something practical and forget about this dream.”
- Psychological Block: This voice dismisses Tom’s passion for photography and suggests that pursuing it is unrealistic and not worth the effort, fueling his self-doubt.
- Saboteur Thought: “What if your disability gets in the way? You won’t be able to manage the program.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “Your disability will make everything harder. How will you manage carrying equipment? What if you can’t move around easily enough to take the best shots? It’s too risky.”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur targets Tom’s physical limitations, making him feel that his disability will prevent him from enjoying the program or succeeding in it.
Lucy
Adult Learner:
- Name: Lucy
- Age: 19
- Background:
Lucy is a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth who dropped out of school at 16 due to personal issues. She has been struggling to find stable work and feels disconnected from society. Lucy has no qualifications but is passionate about working with animals and hopes to pursue a career in animal care. However, her lack of formal education and work experience has made her hesitant to pursue further training.
The Mobility Program:
- Program: EU Mobility Learning Program for Animal Care and Welfare
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Location: A partner city in Finland (e.g., Helsinki)
- Overview:
This program focuses on animal care, welfare practices, and ethical issues related to animal treatment. It includes practical workshops and visits to animal care facilities. Lucy sees it as an opportunity to gain practical experience in her field of interest, but she is unsure if she can handle the responsibility of taking part in a professional program.
Saboteur’s Voice:
- Saboteur’s Thought: “You don’t have what it takes to succeed in this field.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “What if you’re not cut out for this work? You’ve never had any formal training, and this field requires a lot of responsibility. What if you can’t handle the pressure and disappoint everyone?”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur highlights Lucy’s insecurities about her ability to succeed in a new field, triggering her fear of being inadequate.
- Saboteur’s Thought: “This won’t help you find a real job anyway.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “Even if you go, what good is a two-week program? You’ll learn a little, but it won’t lead to anything concrete. You need a full-time job, not just a short course.”
- Psychological Block: This voice downplays the value of the program, focusing on Lucy’s practical concerns about job security and immediate work needs, while dismissing the potential long-term benefits.
- Saboteur’s Thought: “You can’t afford to go away for two weeks.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “You’ve been living at home for so long, and you’re not financially independent. How can you leave for two weeks? You can’t afford it, and what if something goes wrong while you’re away?”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur reinforces Lucy’s financial dependency and makes her feel guilty for considering an opportunity that could disrupt her stability.
Ali
Adult Learner:
- Name: Ali
- Age: 23
- Background:
Ali is a young adult with a migration background who has recently left school. He has struggled to find stable work due to limited job opportunities and language barriers. Ali has been unemployed for over a year and feels frustrated by the lack of career direction. He has no formal qualifications and is eager to change his situation but lacks confidence in his ability to succeed.
The Mobility Program:
- Program: EU Mobility Learning Program for Digital Marketing
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Location: A partner city in the Netherlands (e.g., Amsterdam)
- Overview:
This program covers digital marketing strategies, e-commerce, and online advertising. Ali sees this as an opportunity to gain new skills that would make him more marketable in the job market. However, Ali worries about his ability to succeed in an unfamiliar field and feels unsure about stepping outside his comfort zone.
Saboteur’s Voice:
- Saboteur’s Thought: “You’re not good enough for this, they’ll judge you.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “Why would they want you in this program? You don’t even speak the language perfectly, and you don’t have the skills. The others will look down on you, and you won’t be able to keep up. You’re just not cut out for this.”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur amplifies Ali’s fear of not being accepted and judged by others for his perceived lack of qualifications and language skills.
- Saboteur’s Thought: “What if you fail and waste your time?”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “What if you go there and realize that it’s just not for you? What if you can’t learn fast enough and waste your time? You’ll be stuck in the same place, and you’ll feel even worse than before.”
- Psychological Block: This thought plays on Ali’s fear of failure and his habit of jumping from one thing to another without commitment, making him question if he should even try.
- Saboteur’s Thought: “You’re just wasting time, why bother?”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “You’ve been unemployed for so long; what makes you think two weeks in a program will change your life? You need a real job now, not some temporary skill-building program. This could be a waste of your time.”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur minimizes the potential benefit of the program, making Ali question whether short-term learning is worth his time when he’s desperate for immediate employment.
Helen
Adult Learner:
- Name: Helen
- Age: 58
- Background:
Helen has recently retired from a long career in retail and is now struggling to find purpose and stay mentally engaged. She has a long history of chronic health issues and limited mobility, which make her feel disconnected from others. Helen is interested in exploring a new career path in social work but has little experience with computers and modern communication tools. She’s apprehensive about learning new skills, especially with the constant reminder that she’s getting older.
The Mobility Program:
- Program: EU Mobility Learning Program for Social Work and Community Engagement
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Location: A partner city in Denmark (e.g., Copenhagen)
- Overview:
The program focuses on community work, social service innovations, and building partnerships with local organisations. It includes workshops, seminars, and cultural exchange activities. The program is designed to boost digital literacy and leadership skills for community professionals. Helen sees this as a way to build on her personal experiences and make a difference, but her age and health concerns make her hesitate.
Saboteur’s Voice:
- Saboteur’s Thought: “You’re too old to start learning something new.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “You’re too old to learn anything new. You should just enjoy your retirement. People your age aren’t expected to be part of such a modern program. You’ll never be able to keep up with the younger people. What if you embarrass yourself?”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur feeds into Helen’s fear of age-related limitations, making her feel like it’s too late for her to learn and contribute.
- Saboteur’s Thought: “What if your health gets in the way?”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “You know how your health has always held you back. What if you get sick while you’re away? You’ll be a burden to the group, and they’ll feel sorry for you. It’s just too much to take on with your health problems.”
- Psychological Block: This thought highlights Helen’s physical disability and her belief that she is a burden, which makes her fear that she cannot fully participate.
- Saboteur’s Thought: “You have no real experience in this field; they’ll judge you.”
- Saboteur’s Voice: “You don’t have any real experience in social work. The others will think you’re wasting their time. What if they don’t respect you because you don’t have the right qualifications? You’re just taking a spot that could go to someone more qualified.”
- Psychological Block: The Saboteur instills self-doubt, playing on Helen’s need for approval and fear of not fitting in with more experienced participants.