Novos actores no trabalho em educa？？o: os mediadores socioeducativos

although it is not a new social and educational practice, studies on characterization of mediation activities and on the profile of social and educational mediators are still scarce. in this paper the research team had two main purposes: to identify and to define the profile of social and educational mediators, and to characterize contexts and practices of social and educational mediation. even though it is an extensive study, undertaken nationwide in portugal (n=225), this is still an exploratory study, mainly descriptive. result analysis makes it possible to identify relevant aspects for coming research in this area along with avenues for future investment. the main professional and social and demographic characteristics of social and educational mediators stand out, as well as the diversity of contexts, the nature of their intervention, the diversity of education and training, and high individual self-esteem and sense of belonging to the group by the participants.