ERASMUS+, Key action 1: training course
Dates: 12—18 May 2025
Venue: Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
Czech team: 3 participants
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Portuguese Red Cross delegation of Sanguedo
Project report:
Forgetting about all the stress of the upcoming university entrance exams and escaping to sunny Portugal in the middle of May is an offer you simply can’t refuse. And I couldn’t say no either.
While May in the Czech Republic was unusually cold this year, in Portugal the lemon and orange trees were already in full bloom, tourists and locals alike basked in the sun on charming terraces, and time seemed to stand still. Everything moved to the rhythm of melodic music and the laughter of people fully immersed in the present moment.
I arrived in Porto—our almost-final destination—two days early to properly explore the city. Although I’m not usually a fan of southern countries, this city truly captured my heart, just like the Portuguese culture and their carefree approach to life. The salty ocean air was everywhere, and a soft, summery breeze drifted through the picturesque, hilly streets. Two days later, on May 12th, I met up with the rest of the participants at a pre-arranged spot not far from Porto’s center, where organizers from the Portuguese Red Cross took us to our final destination—Santa Maria da Feira. This quaint town lies about 20 minutes from Porto by car, and we couldn’t have asked for a better place.
We stayed in a beautiful hotel and walked just five minutes each day to a local private university for our program. The project was called Mind Your Growth, a training course focused on mental health, well-being, and burnout prevention. We were a small group of 16 participants from seven countries—Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Greece, Romania, Portugal, and Germany—and we spent five days together in this unique setup. The program was quite intense, as expected from a training course, but every activity was thoughtfully planned and genuinely enriching. We created a safe space where we could open up about personal experiences and learn from each other. The diversity of our group made the exchange of ideas and stories even more valuable. The sessions combined theory with introspective exercises on self-awareness, values, emotional intelligence, and personal well-being. The goal was not only to deepen our understanding of these themes in relation to our own lives, but also to learn how to pass this knowledge on to younger people in an impactful way.
Time flew by. Beyond learning and bonding, we also explored the area. We visited the sandy beaches of nearby Espinho and took a trip to the fairytale-like town of Aveiro—often referred to as the “Portuguese Venice.” We tasted local food and drinks and exchanged traditional dishes during an international evening with all the participants.
I originally joined the project to expand my knowledge about mental health and to learn in a more informal and engaging way. And I can honestly say it exceeded all my expectations. The activities were meaningful, and I returned with a much deeper understanding of myself. That, to me, is the greatest value of Erasmus+ projects. You get to step out of your comfort zone and grow under the guidance of experienced trainers. We learned how to better work with our emotions, how to prevent burnout, how our values influence our behavior and experience, and how to share these insights with younger generations.
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone reading this and hesitating—say yes to life. If you’re unsure whether to go or not, believe me—you’d regret not going far more than taking the leap. Going abroad alone and not knowing what lies ahead may seem scary, but these are the exact kinds of challenges that make you stronger and more resilient. And when you’re on the plane heading home, realizing you’ve made it through it all, you’ll be filled with gratitude and pride. Erasmus is not just about traveling—it’s a chance to discover who you are.
It’s about breaking the routine, embracing adventure, and, for a little while, letting go of the past and the future to fully live in the moments that leave a mark on your soul forever.
Obrigada.
Viktorie P.
