Mind and Motion

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

"Mind and Motion" was an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange about organizing and implementing international projects. The main activity happened between 2-10 April in Gyula, Hungary. 31 young people came together from Spain, Greece, North Macedonia, Lithuania and Hungary to spend their time learning about the topic of mental and physical health while getting familiar with new cultures.

The project aimed to create a welcoming space where it's possible to build new habits, raise awareness about mental health, discover the benefits of exercise, and start thinking about our future together.

The venue, where we spent most of our time, is in a calm place close to nature, allowing us to focus on our learning and each other. It also provided space for sports from running, through yoga to calisthenics. We tried sports that we'd never met before to step out of our comfort zone and find joy in moving our bodies.

We researched, shared our views and improved critical thinking through various activities and in the breaks as well. We got familiar with each other's cultures while learning dances or tasting traditional dishes at night. 

Besides, we prepared workshops in smaller groups for our visit to a high school in Békéscsaba. This one-day visit took place to spread interculturality in this rural area. It was an amazing experience not only for the students but for our participants as well.

Everyone went home with a refreshed and inspired mindset, feeling ready to act.

Check out the daily Reels on Instagram!

Daily blog

Day 1

"It was our first morning in Hungary. We woke up with birds chirping and sun shinning bright into our eyes. Some of us woke up meditating under the sun and some woke up by a roommate’s fart (guess it’s a preference of a person). After we were woken up with a beautiful nature, suddenly we smelled delicious Hungarian crispy bread with chocolate inside. It was nice to try some Hungarian breakfast with milk.

We started our activity with introducing ourselves by playing name games. After that we played chair game where we had to be fast to find a place to sit. The most interesting part in the morning was drawing sketches of one another which explained our perspective on each other.

The weather in the afternoon was sunny so we went out for a walk while discussing personal topics (our trainers prepared for us) with our partners while getting to know each other better.

While we were still outside, our organisers had some pretty fun games for us. Each of us were enjoying this team-work based activity. We were jumping long rope as a huge team.

After that we continued with physical activities like dancing, taekwondo, jogging, etc.

After that we had a great dinner, while sharing this day’s experiences. Later in the evening Greek presented their culture with Greek dances, lovely photos of their country and strange but tasty foods.

“And that was an amazing day” – I thought to myself while falling asleep.""

Day 2

"We started the day having breakfast. Then we did our family duties. After this, we started the activities, first of all we did an energizer that consisted of making a circle then one person went out, another person had to lead one move, the others had to imitate and the one that was out had to discover who was the leader.

We created presentations about the 7 seven ingredients of well-being: nutrition, self-acceptment, emotional regulation, sleep, emotional resilience and adaptability, positive relationships and physical activities. We learned some interesting facts about how food affects our minds and how important sleep is.

Then we ate fruit soup, meat and mashed potatoes and we took a break, some people went to bed, others played some sports and others were just chilling.

We made our 'wheel of well-being' by rating the 7 ingredients individually, and reflected on the results in pairs. After, we participated in chosen physical activities (HIIT workout, volleyball, yoga) and ate dinner. 

In the evening we had Lithuanian and Hungarian cultural nights, in which we learned about the countries' culture by competing in a kahoot game, we tried to say some tongue breakers in a foreign language and learned some folk dances. After, we organized hide and seek in the dark and played some board games."

Day 3

"Today was a dynamic day filled with exploration and engagement in the Mind and Motion program. The morning was dedicated to delving into the intriguing world of myths through research, sparking intellectual curiosity and creative thinking. 

As the day progressed, lively debates took center stage, igniting passionate discussions and fostering critical thinking skills. In the evening, the atmosphere shifted towards cultural appreciation, with a captivating presentation showcasing the rich traditions of Spain and North Macedonia, providing a delightful and enriching end to the day's endeavours. 

The night concluded with a cozy gathering around a bonfire, where stories were shared, and traditional dances added a touch of festivity to the serene setting, creating cherished memories and fostering camaraderie among participants."

Day 4

"🌈The fourth day started with a special energizer, where we tensed the rope for another person to walk on it. It helped us to understand the importance of trust and teamwork.

🫣For the educational programme we started with insightful discussions on various types of relationships, invaluable tips on safe sex practices, and strategies for finding and maintaining fulfilling relationships. It was a safe space where participants shared their concerns and knowledge. We opened up questions on safe and fulfilling relationships, and how to start and keep relationships engaging, safe and healthy.

🚍After a nourishing lunch, we set out to explore the charming city of Gyula and got in contact with local people. From historical landmarks to hidden gems, every corner had a story to tell, deepening our appreciation for the beauty of diversity. We asked some questions from passersby about intercultural topics and made videos.

⏰As the day drew to a night, we gathered for a delightful dinner, where we enjoyed traditional Hungarian dishes. 🍛 After such an active day, the Greek team took the initiative to organize a modified version of speed dating. 👫 It was an amazing celebration of friendship and unity, where everyone participated in various engaging activities.

Today was more than just a series of activities. It was a day full of opportunities 🌟 to get to know each other better and spend time walking through the alleys of Gyula.

Here's to many more memorable moments as we continue our journey together!"

Day 5

Day 5 of the "Mind and Motion" Erasmus+ Youth Exchange was all about preparing for the next day. Brainstorming, working in teams, and testing different nonformal educational activities.

Day 6

"The day started pretty stressfully. We organised workshops for students in the school of Bekescsaba. We ate breakfast and went to the bus station. When we arrived at the school, we prepared all of the tools. The stress suddenly converted into excitement. Some of us were preparing for the activities more and some of us just playing games and chilling.

We prepared walking on the rope, treasure hunting, energizers, meme creation workshop, and introduction game.

When the students came, at first it was pretty awkward because they seemed shy and scared to communicate with us but somehow we managed to break the ice and have a good time playing these activities. In the end, everyone had a good time.

So after the activities, we went to explore the city. Our organizers ordered pizza, and we went to the park to have lunch and relax for one hour. Then we participated in a city game that included going to a “train pub” and then visited a second-hand shop where we had to choose our pair a whole outfit and vice-versa, which was a really fun activity and we bought pretty good clothes which we dressed to the evening activity, playing mafia, dancing, doing improv activities and just having a good time."

Day 7

Day 7 of the "Mind and Motion" Erasmus+ Youth Exchange: Closing & planning for the future