YOUTH EXCHANGE

🧠 Youth Exchange Report: "MENTAL COMFORT"

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Mentally – Embrace the Unknown

📍 Pissouri, Cyprus | 📆 12–19 October 2025 | 👥 36 youth + 12 leaders + 2 stakeholders

🔹 Project Background and Participant Profile

The "MENTAL COMFORT" Youth Exchange brings together young participants from Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Poland, and Lithuania with the goal of empowering them to step beyond mental comfort zones and develop emotional resilience through physical activity, intercultural dialogue, and experiential learning.

Each participating group consists of 6 young people aged 15–19 and 2 group leaders, selected through an open and inclusive application process. Open calls were distributed via Erasmus+ networks, social media, and youth forums, ensuring access for those with fewer opportunities and less knowledge of Erasmus+.

To promote equity and diversity, participants were selected based on their interest in mental health, inclusion, and civic engagement, and not solely on prior experience. Applications could be submitted in writing or video format, allowing those with limited literacy or learning differences to express themselves.

All teams ensured gender balance, where possible, and diversity in background. Each group includes:

Youth with fewer opportunities (social, economic, or geographic)
Youth interested in intercultural learning and inclusion
Youth unfamiliar with Erasmus+ or international mobility
Participants interested in mental health awareness, youth advocacy, and non-formal learning

Group leaders were chosen based on their youth work experience, communication skills, and ability to ensure safety and inclusion. They serve as mentors and logistical coordinators during the program.

🔹 Participant Involvement in All Phases

From the planning to the follow-up, participants play a central and active role. Prior to the exchange, each partner held preparatory meetings to explain the aims of the project and co-develop the activity plan.

Participants were assigned to functional working groups:

Digital Team: Creates content for social media, photo/video documentation, and promotion
Activities Team: Designs energizers, games, and helps run daily sessions
Reflection Team: Supports evaluation activities and emotional check-ins
Environmental Team: Ensures sustainable and eco-conscious behavior during the exchange

They also contributed by:

Preparing introductory posters
Joining a logo contest to represent the project visually
Conducting research on mental comfort zones and sports
Presenting 2 best practices from their country
Designing 4 awareness posters about mental health and personal growth
Organizing and performing during the Intercultural Night

This collaborative approach ensures that the youth exchange is not only for young people but by young people.

🔹 Learning Outcomes and Competence Development

Participants will explore the theme "Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Mentally" through workshops, simulation games, discussions, and reflection sessions.

Key Learning Outcomes:

🧠 Knowledge

Understand the concept of comfort zones and psychological safety
Learn the benefits of discomfort for personal development
Understand the role of sports in improving mental health
Explore the emotional and cultural dimensions of mental wellness

🛠️ Skills

Goal-setting, decision-making, and risk-taking
Coping mechanisms for anxiety and fear
Communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution
Media production and digital storytelling
Cultural awareness and public speaking

❤️ Attitudes & Behaviours

Growth mindset and emotional resilience
Openness to feedback and other cultures
Appreciation of diversity and inclusion
Increased empathy and self-awareness

🔹 Youthpass and Key Competence Focus

Participants will receive a Youthpass certificate, with emphasis on the 8 Key Competences for Lifelong Learning:

Multilingualism – Communication in English and learning basic words from other languages during Intercultural Night
Digital Competence – Social media campaigns, video creation, poster design
Personal, Social and Learning to Learn – Self-reflection activities, teamwork, and responsibility
Citizenship – Active participation in discussions on mental health and inclusion
Entrepreneurship – Taking initiative, leading activities, public presentations
Cultural Awareness – Engaging with different traditions and histories
Mathematical and Scientific Thinking – Optional input in game mechanics or activity structures
Literacy – Expressing thoughts through visual and written formats like posters, blogs, and diary entries

🔹 Main Elements of the Youth Exchange

Venue:
🌿 Hylatio Tourist Village, Pissouri Bay, Limassol
Eco-friendly with sustainable practices – solar energy, no plastic use, on-site recycling.

Non-Formal Learning Methods Used:
✔ Icebreakers & energizers
✔ Brainstorming, guided reflection, and debates
✔ Team-building games and role plays
✔ Artistic expression (drawing, performing, digital tools)
✔ Field visit to Ancient Kourion for cultural immersion
✔ Escape room for empathy and critical thinking

Themes Covered in Workshops:

Understanding mental comfort zones
Personal fears and resilience
The link between physical activity and mental health
Youth mental health challenges in Europe
How to grow through discomfort

🔹 Communication & Cooperation

To ensure a smooth preparation and follow-up process:

Facebook group & Messenger chat opened one month before
Weekly coordination calls with national leaders
National group meetings held for planning and updates
All working groups (media, activities, evaluation) communicate via digital tools
Participants submit diaries, videos, and reflections during and after the exchange
Follow-up includes local events, blog posts, and social media content
All outputs will be featured on the project website

🔹 Impact and Sustainability

The Youth Exchange aims to:

Empower youth to handle discomfort and change with confidence
Promote Erasmus+ among young people with fewer opportunities
Encourage long-term personal development and community involvement
Provide reusable tools (videos, posters, research) for future projects
Build lasting partnerships between the participating organizations

Participants will return home better equipped to face life's uncertainties, spread the message of mental well-being, and become advocates of inclusion and growth within their communities.