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The project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

"Participate in Peace" was an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange about mental health, active citizenship and democracy.

The main activity of the project took place from 8-16 August 2025 in Mezőberény, Hungary, bringing together 31 young people from Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Hungary for a unique non-formal learning experience.

Why did we decide to do a project about mental well-being and active citizenship?

We believe that active citizenship and democratic life play a big role in young people’s mental well-being but still, many of us feel disconnected from these processes.

During this project, participants learned new tools that can support them in their everyday lives when it comes to their mental health. Next to addressing our mental well-being and taking care of ourselves, we put a huge emphasis on it being connected to active citizenship and democracy.

We explored this link during the week through non-formal activities, which supported the participants' improvement in several ways.

After learning about European values and democracy, we got motivated to become more active citizens on both local, national and international levels. Furthermore, we became aware of our boundaries, allowing ourselves to be active while also balancing our mental well-being. 

Check out the Reels and pictures on Instagram! @21daysngo

Daily blogs

Day 1

"During the first day of Participate in Peace we met after a long time friends we never met before,

we got connected with ropes,

we killed the horse fly,

and we became a big heart.

We started our youth exchange, and while the morning started with that mix of excitement and first-day shyness, the ice started to melt We spent our first few hours just getting to know each other through some activities. Our favorite part was sharing stories from the perspective of our shoes.

By the afternoon, the shyness was mostly gone, and we sat down to decide how we actually wanted to live and work together this week. Instead of following a pre-made list of rules, we built our own "social contract". We also grouped up into our culturally diverse "Family Groups," which will be our little home base for everything, but most importantly the daily reflection.

The energy was picked up during the team-building challenges. We had to untangle knotted ropes and form shapes while blindfolded, which turned out to be a huuuge lesson in trust and communication. There’s nothing quite like trying to make a perfect triangle in the dark to show you how much you need to rely on the people around you! We wrapped up the day in our reflection groups, processing what we’d learned before diving into traditional games from different cultures. We were pretty exhausted by the end of the day, but seeing a group of strangers turn into a community in just twelve hours made us even more excited."

Day 2

"Dear people, the second blog is alive ☀!

Today it was the warmest day of the week. (hopefully)

We started the day with the most delicious homemade jam by Ábris’s grandma❤ (thank you so much for that!)

After breakfast, we dived into the world of political systems for the first time…

We became kings , queens , prime ministers , citizens … and big brothers.

We wanted something sweet after that, so … we called the European Commission.

We learned about the adventures of chocolate all around Europe… and we discovered that chocolate is not only “black and white” but it is full of colors.

After lunch, we became active citizens and elected our new Mayor by using sophisticated methods.

After a small Dance party that helped us release the tension of the elections, we shared our experiences regarding civic engagement.

We discovered that together we leave our mark all over the world."

Day 3

"Yesterday it was the Spanish and Greek night, and we danced, ate typical food, and talked for hours. That made some participants late for our activities, which led to inaugurating the challenge box.

The chairs were arranged in a circle, with no tables and no barriers, just an open and safe space that led to surprising conversations.

The first activity came as a warning of the upcoming mood, the mood of learning how to feel and not how to speak.

Day 3 was the day we truly started knowing each other in a deeper way, stepping over small talk and having thoughtful conversations, even over blind trust. We learned to listen to the people around us and shared our deepest and untold stories. We created a safe environment for ourselves and our most recent friends to open up.

After all the emotion in the small town of Mezobereny, the sun went down and the joy of the night stepped in, giving place to Portugal and Italian night.

This connection day finished in the best way possible by playing games and dancing on the football pitch.

Can't wait to see what the upcoming days will bring us :)"

Day 4

"The morning was all about the art of the argument. We were split into six teams, each asked to answer some of the biggest questions that Europe is facing today. 

The room was pretty noisy and loud as everyone wanted to prepare the best way they could. We were deep in research mode! When the debates finally started, the tension was kind of high. Each of us had exactly sixty seconds to make our point. It’s amazing how much you can say in one minute when you’re forced! 

By midday, our brains were a bit fried, but...

This experience was really exciting, and we learned a lot about ourselves."

Day 5

"What a day Day 5 was! The day kicked off with some watery volleyball (maybe not just some)! We lost a few brave soldiers to the splash (yes, we got wet).

After that, we explored Mezőberény through games, challenges, and lots of photos! So now we can confidently say we’re ready to guide you here or at least offer a few solid suggestions!

To recharge, the next workshops were all about relaxing: we practiced breathing exercises, did some drawing, and worked on communication.

It was a big day, but we built bridges between us and every moment was totally worth it!"

Day 6

"An amazing day in Békéscsaba! 

We had the stimulating opportunity of visiting Békéscsaba, one of the major towns in the region, and after some sightseeing, we got the chance to visit the city hall and discover its history.

Then we caught the attention of the locals through soap bubbles, and chalk doodles on the main street - we got to know young locals, had a fun time on an ancient train, and learnt about life in Hungary."

Day 7

"Hello everyone!

Last day has come.

Today we started the day with a “reflection activity”.

We teamed up and each one created a poster about every day of the program.

We remembered for one more time the politics systems , the debates , our workshops , the intercultural nights, the parties, the trip to Békéscsaba and of course all the fun we had together.

After lunch we put the red carpet on the floor and all of us received our very own Erasmus award. We watched a nostalgic video of all the previous days and finally played a fun game that let us share all our emotions and thoughts for each other.

We had such an inspiring week and now it’s time we each head to our next adventure. See you soon!"