Event- Finding balance in nature: Discover what we did during the Mental Health in a Digital Era Youth Exchange

    The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange Mental Health in a Digital Era has recently come to an end, marking the conclusion of a journey described by participants as both `magical` and `transformative`.

    During the mobility in Slovakia from 25th of August to the 1st of September, young people from Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Austria explored the balance between the digital world, nature and their well-being.

 

    The program achieved significant outcomes:

• Participants became aware of the impact of digital habits on their mental health and learned concrete strategies for managing screen time and avoiding digital overload.
• Through mindfulness practices, outdoor activities, and time spent in nature, they cultivated healthier daily routines.
• Above all, the exchange created a community of trust and openness, one that participants agreed would remain in their memories long after the project’s end.

    Participants practiced breathing exercises, short meditations, and grounding techniques that could be easily integrated into daily life. These sessions highlighted the power of simple routines in reducing stress and balancing emotions. Togheter with spending time outdoors, the activities included mindful walks, outdoors activities and group reflection circles in nature using different methids like Bella Mama and Shiva Shambo. 

    Several workshops used art, music and role-play as tools to explore emotions and connections with nature. These activities allowed participants to express their ideas beyond words and to discover how creativity supports well-being.

Follow up in Romania

    On 9 September 2025, the spirit of the Slovakian exchange was carried forward in Romania through a follow-up activity. Facilitated by three of our Romanian participants, Irina Ianchiș, Anne Ilieșiu and Ștefana Vlaicu, the event took place outdoors in the scenic Meseș Mountains near Zalău (Sălaj County) and brought together seven young people for a two-hour session.

    The follow up aimed to:

• Encourage time in nature while disconnecting from screens.
• Deepen lessons learned during the Erasmus+ project.
• Connect participants through movement and shared reflection.

    The activity combined elements experienced in Slovakia with local adaptations, offering participants the chance to step away from the city’s noise and discover how genuine connection emerges in the absence of digital distractions.

    Through this follow-up, a piece of the Erasmus experience in Slovakia was brought to the local community in Romania. By reconnecting with nature, slowing down, and sharing authentic moments, participants experienced once again the core message of the project: mental health flourishes when people are present, mindful, and connected. The project demonstrated that Erasmus+ is not just about a week abroad, it continues to live on through the people involved and the communities they enrich upon their return.