Sonia described her participation in the Erasmus+ training course “Youth Workers’ Lab for Mental Well-being” as an extremely insightful, educational, and enriching experience that significantly expanded both her knowledge and practical competences related to mental health and emotional well-being. Throughout the training course in Pernik, she explored a wide range of mental health tools, methods, and non-formal educational activities designed to support emotional resilience and psychological well-being among young people.
For Sonia, one of the most valuable aspects of the project was learning how different mental health activities and approaches can be adapted according to the needs of specific target groups. She appreciated the practical and interactive nature of the training, which demonstrated how creative environments and experiential learning methods can help people feel safe enough to express emotions, reflect on their experiences, and openly discuss mental health topics. The project also inspired her to think more critically and creatively about how mental well-being can be promoted within youth work, counselling, and group facilitation settings.
Reflecting on her personal development, Sonia explained that the project helped her become more open-minded, reflective, and aware of the importance of flexibility and empathy when working with people from different backgrounds. Observing how the trainers adapted activities and communication methods depending on the needs of participants helped her better understand the importance of inclusive and emotionally supportive facilitation approaches.
As a concrete follow-up action after the project, Sonia plans to integrate the mental health tools, exercises, and practices she learned during the training into her own counselling sessions and group work activities. She hopes to create safe and supportive spaces where participants feel comfortable discussing mental health challenges, reflecting on emotions, and practicing activities that promote emotional balance and well-being. Through this, she aims to further raise awareness about the importance of mental health and encourage young people to actively care for their emotional well-being.
Among the activities she found most valuable were practical exercises connected to emotional literacy, self-reflection, and creative emotional expression, particularly the Emotion Wheel activities and the neurographic art workshop. Sonia explained that these methods demonstrated how simple and accessible tools can help people better recognize, understand, and manage their emotions in a non-threatening and engaging way. She believes these approaches can be especially effective when working with young people and groups, as they encourage openness, communication, and emotional awareness through creative and interactive processes.
Sonia strongly recommends Erasmus+ projects to other young people, describing them as highly enriching experiences that combine learning, personal growth, intercultural exchange, and meaningful human connection. According to her, participating in international projects helps young people develop important competences such as teamwork, communication, adaptability, and intercultural understanding while also broadening their perspectives and creating lasting personal and professional relationships.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
