ART MIND CONNECT: Youth Exchange
November 3-12, 2025 đź“ŤMalacky, Slovakia
Young people aged 18-30 from Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and Slovakia gathered for an unforgettable Erasmus+ project about mental health. Through art, mindfulness, real talks, and fun vibes we broke down barriers and built lifelong connections.
Art became our universal language. In mixed teams, we crafted vibrant posters, staged mini plays and snapped photos. A photography workshop with Sofi who shared her story: how photography helped her beat tough times, and discover her true path in life. We even ran a session snapping pics of our own emotions from stressed to pure joy, turning selfies into therapy.
We balanced the deep stuff with chill mindfulness sessions. Guided meditations and breathing exercises gave us easy tools to crush stress and find balance. Pro tip: Next time life’s chaotic, try the square breathing exercise (inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4). It works perfectly! A psychologist joined us for a session on handling stress and anxiety, dropping practical strategies and open discussion where we all shared our stories.
During intercultural evenings we shared foods, music, dances, and facts from our countries. Slovak team showed our quirky Easter traditions like pouring water on girls and spanking them with a willow whip for good luck and health.
This project reminded us that mental health isn't a solo journey, it's about community, creativity, and compassion. đź’›
