Some journeys begin when you arrive, while others start to gain meaning after you return home. Mind Matters was the second kind for me. Throughout the project, I did not only gain new knowledge; I also experienced how transformative it can be to share the same space with people from different countries, think together and learn from one another.

I went to Slovakia with curiosity. On my way back, that curiosity had turned into new friendships, new ideas and a stronger awareness of young people’s mental health.

First steps in Malacky

After a long and tiring journey, we arrived in Slovakia and were welcomed by the project team. The tiredness of the first day quickly gave way to curiosity, because I was surrounded by people from different countries. Everyone had a different language, a different culture and a different story.

First introductions are usually quite simple. Names are exchanged, countries are learned and a few questions are asked. But in Erasmus+ projects, these simple introductions can turn into much deeper conversations within just a few days. After a while, you become more curious about who people are than where they come from.

Thinking together about mental health

The project focused on strengthening young people’s mental health. From the first days onward, we worked on different mental health challenges young people may face, ways of coping with them and support mechanisms.

For me, the most valuable part of the project was that the topic was not only explained. It was discussed, connected with real experiences and reflected on together. Seeing how people from different countries approached the same topic during group work was very instructive.

One participant’s experience could help another person notice something they had never considered before. That is why I left each session not only with new information, but also with a new perspective.

From one workshop to another

Throughout the project, we took part in various group activities and workshops at the school. Sometimes we worked together on a topic, sometimes we reflected individually, and sometimes we shared our ideas with the rest of the group.

One of the most important things these activities gave me was the ability to take an active role within a team. Working on the same task with people from different cultures teaches you that you cannot approach everyone in the same way. One person’s working style may be very different from another’s. Some people produce ideas immediately, while others prefer to listen first.

Creating a common working method among all these differences becomes a learning experience in itself.

A journey to Poland in one evening

One of the most colorful parts of the project was the cultural nights. Each country introduced its culture to the other participants. Food, traditions, music and daily life became the most memorable parts of those evenings.

The Polish cultural night was especially impressive for me. I learned many things I had not known before about Polish traditions, food and lifestyle. The best part of cultural nights is this: instead of learning about a country from books or the internet, you hear it from the people of that country.

I also had the chance to observe Slovakia not only as a project participant, but within everyday life. The streets, people, food and city life gave me a more personal sense of the country.

Sometimes the way to rest the mind passes through a park

On one day of the project, we left the school and went to a park. We played games outdoors, danced and spent time together. At first, this activity did not seem directly connected to the main topic of the project, but it was actually one of the best examples of the mental health theme.

Sometimes, feeling mentally well is not only about talking. Moving a little, laughing, spending time with friends and stepping away from daily routine are also needed. The time we spent in the park reminded me of this through experience.

In another city for a day

On the free day of the project, we had the chance to visit Bratislava. Discovering a new city together was completely different from the training sessions, but just as valuable.

We saw the city’s historical and cultural places, walked through its streets and observed local life. While exploring the city, we also spent more time with the people we had met during the project.

I think this is one of the most beautiful parts of an Erasmus+ experience. Learning does not only happen during a workshop. A conversation in a cafe, getting lost together in a city, sharing a meal or talking about another country’s culture while walking can also be part of learning.

The day we brought our ideas together

In the later days of the project, we prepared presentations by bringing together what we had learned in the previous sessions. Each group presented its work to the other participants.

This process helped us repeat what we had learned and also see the ideas of other groups. It was quite possible to find an idea in another group’s presentation that you could use in your own work.

That is why there was a constant exchange of knowledge throughout the project. In a way, everyone brought something from their own country, and by the end of the project, a shared experience had emerged.

More than a project

Like every meaningful Erasmus+ project, Mind Matters also came to an end. On the closing day, we reflected on what we had learned, what we had experienced and what the process had brought us.

The moment we received our participation certificates, I felt that the project had truly ended. Seeing people who did not know each other on the first day become emotional while saying goodbye on the last day showed how valuable the time we had spent together was.

Mind Matters did not only give me new knowledge about mental health. It gave me the chance to discover different cultures, listen to different thoughts and create with different people. I developed my teamwork and communication skills. I felt that my self-confidence had grown.

I went to Slovakia wanting to discover a new country. I returned with new people, new ideas and a new perspective.