ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: youth exchange
Venue: Balatonszárszó, Hungary
Dates: 21—29 November 2023
Czech team: 4 participants + 1 group leader
Please read the info-pack.
Hostimg organisation: MeOut Group
Project report:
It’s November 21st, early in the morning, and our Czech team meets in a train to Hungary full of anticipation because, with just one exception, we’re embarking on our first Erasmus+ project. Our destination is the village Balatónszárszó on the eastern shore of Lake Balaton, where we’ll spend a whole week with people from Georgia, Romania, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.
The first day of the youth exchange is full of introductory activities, and despite that, we delve into mental health objectives in small groups. Even the initial activities showed that although we come from different countries and cultures, we are on the same wavelength, and collaboration on the topic excites us. Each of us wants to expand our skills and techniques for taking care of our mental health.
Over the next two days, we immerse ourselves both theoretically and practically in procedures and methods related to conflict resolution, non-violent communication, and concentration skills, all contributing to feeling healthy, balanced, and at ease. Our group reflects on what we learn—we harmonize completely, everyone engages in activities, allowing us to delve deeply into the topic. Our group is filled with positive energy, and during more challenging topics we go through really emotional moments as we touch on very personal matters. Still, together we experience a lot of humorous moments— all of this connects us more and more throughout the week. These moments are possible only due to immense mutual trust and the guidance of our wonderful facilitator, Galya, who exudes an unbelievable inner calm.
One of the interesting topics was vulnerable groups in individual countries, showing us cultural differences, similarities, as well as the problems and challenges each country faces. During the so-called country sessions, each country’s national team had to prepare a blog on activities related to mental health. Everything started with the sensitive art method, creatively using old books and embarking on a journey of our imagination. Theatre explored emotions, blindfolded talks were very deep, as we enjoyed our group’s openness. I was impressed by the exercise that showed us how we behave when struggling with mental health—a nice type of reflection to make us think about it. Our Czech group pushed the other participants out of their comfort zones with the “blind” snake that had to find its way and, lastly, with the “trust fall”, which were also nice team building activities.
Evenings were spent at the so-called intercultural nights, celebrating the diversity of our cultures and showcasing traditional foods, music, stereotypes, and cultural customs. I enjoyed a day off in a small group with a bike trip, taking a ferry across Lake Balaton, and exploring the Nemzeti Park during a twelve-kilometre walk, while others discovered the beauty of the Christmas markets in Budapest.
To summarize, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this youth exchange, thank you to the organizers, to EYCB for facilitating it, for possibility to learn new methods which I can use in my personal and professional life, and thank you for being part of an absolutely fantastic group of young people who created such a wonderful sharing atmosphere.
Martina
