TC Inner Peace, Outer Impact

TC Inner Peace, Outer Impact

From July 21st to 27th, 2025, we had the opportunity to participate in a training course in Pamporovo, Bulgaria, focused on mental health and emotional resilience in youth work. The project, titled Inner Peace, Outer Impact, brought together youth workers and volunteers from eight countries, including Slovakia, Turkey, Italy, Lithuania, and Spain. For one week, the hotel in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains transformed into a space for informal yet intensive learning, exploring nature, and building new interpersonal relationships.

This training opened doors for us into an area that concerns us both personally and professionally – the mental health of young people. Under the guidance of psychologist Emilia Crushcov, we covered topics such as stress, trauma, eating disorders, and challenges in youth work. At the same time, we collectively focused on practical techniques for working with and dealing with these situations. Part of the program was dedicated to specific techniques such as breathing exercises or Shinrin Yoku (connecting with the forest). A large part of the activities was also about ourselves, sharing our experiences, finding inner balance, and also about how to take care of ourselves so that we can help others. I especially appreciate how the project was interconnected across individuals, which ultimately can have a greater "outer impact".

The informal moments were also a great benefit, as we got to know each other, went on hikes, organized intercultural evenings, and many other activities. These moments helped us establish contacts and friendships that often last even after the project ends. Such projects not only offer new knowledge but, above all, develop empathy, flexibility, and the ability to work in diverse teams. I am very grateful that we were able to participate in this project and take home new experiences, knowledge, and friendships.