From 17 to 23 February 2025, the international training course "Mindful Connections: Enhancing Mental Awareness and Resilience in Youth Work" took place at the European Youth Education Centre (EJBM) in Magdeburg. Youth work professionals from France, Spain, Romania, Ukraine, Greece, Serbia, and Germany gathered to engage deeply with the topics of mental health and resilience in youth work.
Workshops, Exchange, and Transcultural Encounters
The diverse programme of the training course included workshops, discussion formats, and interactive methods. Key topics covered included:
- Mental health in youth work – significance, challenges, and best practices
- Working with traumatised youth in war zones and displaced young people
- Impact of the pandemic and quarantine on young people’s mental health
- Country-specific approaches to mental health issues
Particularly enriching was the World Café, where participants shared their experiences and challenges from their respective countries, as well as the presentation of the handbook from our "We Care" project, which featured valuable methods and tools for practical use.
Creativity, City Exploration, and Transcultural Evenings
In addition to the intensive workshops, participants took part in team-building activities and a digital "Actionbound" scavenger hunt through Magdeburg, offering a playful way to explore the city. Furthermore, the ESC team presented its audio guide project. Creative workshops, such as graphic recording, helped participants visually document their insights.
The transcultural evenings provided a space to celebrate the diversity of participating countries – with traditional music, food, and stories. These evenings were a particular highlight, fostering intercultural exchange.
Conclusion and Outlook
The week was characterised by in-depth discussions, inspiring exchanges, and valuable learning experiences. Participants left not only with new methods and tools for their work with young people but also with cross-border networks and fresh perspectives on mental health.
We sincerely thank all those involved for their dedication and look forward to further collaborations and projects aimed at strengthening resilience and mental well-being in youth work!
