Romania
Follow-up Activity
The event took place on the 29th of March, 15:00-5:00 p.m. local time, at Zbor Iasi ( a space for youth events that our organisation often uses for their own projects).
It was called: "Erasmus+ opportunities and the experiences of participants" and the goal was to share our experience in Vienna with the participants and talk about what a youth opportunity looks like, how they can sign up, what we learned, and what we recommend. The first part was the PEMEHECON project presentation, followed by a 1-hour activity (energiser + Past, Present and Future + reflection).
We promoted the dissemination event through personal stories, messages to our friends and our organisation's WhatsApp community. (see them above). The interested people used the following sign-up link for presence monitoring: https://luma.com/zob3t4xv?fbclid=PAb21jcAQ52qZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81NjcwNjczNDMzNTI0MjcAAaffyxOHrK8uD5HSj7W9C7PsZwBYz8pGnIQfbepT8OgIsu-Ew8FfTGcMph57zg_aem_U2cx4HlQ6Hu2_PFtLBqtWQ&locale=ro
13 people signed up officially, but a few more came by without signing up. In total, there were 19 people present at the event - as you can see in the photos. Their ages were between 16 years old and 24 years old, the median being 18/19 years old.
We presented PEMEHECON in the first part of the event (the presentation used is attached below). Then followed by the activity with its chosen subject, Mental Health.
We used the energiser Yes/No/Maybe with questions for participants (similar to Take a Step Forward, but with more icebreaking and fun questions to get to know each other).
Then we did the activity called Past, Present, Future. Participants received a paper and split it into three parts. In each part, they drew symbols and images relevant to their past, present and future. The activity was followed by reflection time and questions (the ones presented in the planning). Three participants were even brave enough to not just respond to the questions addressed, but also to show and share with the others what their drawing meant (photos in the drive).
At the event, participants arranged their drawings on a table as a Gallery (those that wanted to put their drawing in the Gallery, with or without names, and they could have taken them home or not). In this way, we showcased all the drawings, noticed what each participant drew, and they could notice the differences and similarities between them and started conversations with each other after the activity.
The event went well. The participants were content, and their verbal feedback was positive. One thing to improve at the dissemination event was the promotion (we could have posted more in advance and recruited more participants with this strategy). And an idea for future events: invite another NGO or a specialist in the theme (mental health or nature) and collaborate cross-organisationally between our organisation and the invited one.
In the end, it was a nice event, and we were so glad to have shared our experience with other young people!
Workshop Name: Past, Present and Future
Team members: Adelina Buliga, Diana Aionesei, Mădălina Donea
Goal and Objectives:
Aim: Participants explore how the environment shapes personal identity, memories, and mental well-being.
Goal of the activity: To draw things that you feel connected to and tell a personal story about them.
Objectives:
Compare past, present and future realities.
Recognize emotional responses connected to a person's local environment from childhood to the present.
Improve communication by open discussion about emotions and changes in past, present, future identities.
Reflect about how personal identity, memories, and wellbeing can shift.
Target group: Teenagers from 14 to 19 years old.
Energizer: Take a step forward / Axa Yes - No - Maybe (depending on the space: either a long horizontal line or 2 room corners)
Everyone stands up.
The facilitator reads out the statements and the participants have to move quickly depending on the response (if they agree with the statement/ have experienced the situation described by the statement)
-You have siblings.
-You love wearing hoodies.
-You were late at least once for school because I forgot about it.
-You had breakfast this morning.
-You prefer coffee over tea.
-You spend more time on my phone than you plan to.
- You had felt proud of yourself for overcoming a challenge.
- You had felt ashamed before to ask for help.
- You had felt nervous about trying something new.
- You felt overwhelmed by your responsibilities at least once.
- You felt lonely, even in a crowd, at least one time.
- You practiced journaling, sports or mindfulness for mental health.
- You have helped someone in need before.
Main Activity
Participants sit around tables/they have a seat and space to draw onto their lap. They have one A4 paper and crayons/markers
Facilitator starts explaining the instructions. Participants are asked to divide a sheet of paper into three sections: past, present, and future. The task is to draw something that represents each of these periods in their lives.
This activity is allowing them to immerse in their own experiences—past, present, and future. The participants can transfer their fears, thoughts, and dreams onto paper and then reflect on them together.
Reflection
Which part of your drawing was easiest to create? Why?
Which part was the hardest to draw or think about?
What has stayed the same and what changed about you over time?
Past:
What moment, person, or experience from your past shaped you the most?
Is there something in your past that you feel proud of? Why?
Is there something from your past that still affects you today?
Present:
What emotions best describe your life right now?
What are you currently struggling with or trying to figure out?
Future:
What do you hope your future will look like?
What fears or uncertainties about the future did you include, if any?
What support do you need to become the person you want to be?
Gallery time: Participants stick their drawing to the Gallery Corner and admire the works of others after the reflection. Closing time.
Timeline (50 minutes) breakdown
10 min: introductions and presentation about PEMEHECON
5 min: Energizer
5 minutes - Instructions
10 minutes - Past, present, future (the main activity - drawing)
15 minutes - Reflection and sharing
5 minutes - Gallery with the drawings and Closing
Team Roles:
Adelina: Energizer and presentation (laptop)
Diana: Instruction and reflection (main activity)
Mădălina: Photos, videos and time-keeping (dissemination)
Materials: A4 papers, crayons, markers, scotch/pins
Participants' impressions from the project:
Aionesei Elena - Diana:
PEMEHECON was an experience in which I learned, in a comprehensible manner for my 18 year old self, the art of being a great youth worker. Considering that I am at the beginning of this career path, the experienced trainers teaching us did an excellent job at presenting the information and activities in a way that was gentle, yet extremely effective. Each day the focus was on something new, explained thoroughly, which workshop fit various age groups, and how we, as youth workers, can implement them in our local events.
I have learned deep knowledge about facilitating projects, yet also methods and techniques on managing stressful situations, alongside decompressing strategies and grounding tactics after particularly difficult days. Not only that, I also experienced the equilibrium between adapting to a team of different people and our circumstances, and the visions/ideas and personal opinions I have, creating a balanced bridge between the two concepts.
In one of the final days we got to create our own activities, within a deadline, in a group of four. For me, it was the most challenging and potentially stressful day, though still my personal favourite part of the project. I discovered so many things about myself, observations I wouldn't have made otherwise of this opportunity. It was the one activity that has developed me the most, in my opinion.
There were, of course, some activities that I didn't exactly like or saw the point in. Despite that, I somehow found myself enjoying them and reflecting on their importance and impact days later.
I will forever be grateful for this opportunity I took part in, for the occassion of experiencing the life of a Western European capital city, the scope of experimenting youth trainer work, the significant bonds I formed with everyone, and memories that will remain forever. Thank you ACPELIA, TREDU CLUB and HESSA for making this unforgettable chance possible.
Buliga Maria-Adelina:
PEMEHECON – Protect the Environment and your Mental Health with your Connection with Nature – Austria, Vienna, 18 February – 1 March
I'm still trying to put into words what this experience meant to me. Even now, a few days after returning from Austria, I keep thinking about the people I met, the activities we did, and the lessons I discovered. And I find myself transported back in time, like in a dream, to Vienna.
Billy Joel's song "Vienna" was the soundtrack playing in my mind throughout all the days spent in Austria's capital. Lyrics like: "Slow down, you're doin' fine / You can't be everything you wanna be before your time / (…) Why don't you realize Vienna waits for you?"
And indeed, Vienna was waiting for us. Patiently, with open arms, together with the trainers, facilitators, and hosts of the project. And it watched us as we all discovered calmness, mindfulness techniques, conscious movement of the body, and connecting with nature—even in a major European capital. Vienna showed us that you don't need to isolate yourself from people and society in order to find your inner self and improve your mental well‑being. You just need people, a bit of guidance from the trainers, and play.
And that's exactly what we learned in the project. We connected with people, with nature, we played, we did theatre, we created, we explored. All the elements of nature were present: water, fire, air, earth; and all states of matter :) for water—we had snowfall, rain, sunshine—and the activities in and with nature took place every day. I realized that nature is a given, and you can use it at any time, freely, for activities as a youth worker.
The days spent in the project were perfect; the people, the places, the activities were 10/10. I left Iași on February 18 with emotions about how everything would be, how we would get there, who I would meet. And I left Vienna on March 1, heading home with peace, excitement, and acceptance: that with the arrival of spring and the end of PEMEHECON, a new beginning also appears. Endings don't need to be sad—they can be full of hope. I had a wonderful experience that I can't wait to build upon in the future through dissemination activities and through my impact on the world.
PEMEHECON was a complete, balanced, and successful project. Like a good dream that I still find hard to believe has ended…
Many thanks to Hessa, Acpelia, Tredu Club, and everyone who made this project possible. Keep up the good work!
Donea Mădălina-Elena:
For me, PEMEHECON was a project where I learned many useful and interesting things about nature, mental and physical health, art, and more.
I took part in many fun workshops,some more relaxing and calm, others more dynamic, which created a balanced atmosphere that I really enjoyed. We had outdoor activities where we could connect with nature and meditate on various aspects of life.
There were also many indoor workshops where we discussed a variety of topics related to the project's theme. Through these, I discovered new things about myself and those around me, hearing others' perspectives on the world and their personal opinions. This helped me better understand those issues and connect with the people around me; it was very interesting to hear different viewpoints and share my own without being judged.
At the same time, there were art-related activities, which I absolutely loved. Being passionate about art, I appreciated the opportunity to create something meaningful to me and present it to the group.
At the end of the project, each team had the chance to create its own activity. I truly valued this because it taught me how to build an event from scratch, how to coordinate it, how to communicate with others, and how to adapt to certain situations. It also allowed me to see just how much work and effort goes into planning and creating such activities.
Additionally, we had plenty of free time to visit Vienna and have fun together. I had the opportunity to talk to many people, learn about different cultures, explore the city, visit museums, go to an amusement park, take photos, and admire the architecture—all while bonding with others and making new friends.
I am very grateful for the opportunity offered by Acpelia, Tredu Club, and Hessa, and for being able to participate in this project. I met so many wonderful people, formed deep connections, and grew as a person. I learned new things that I will use in the future and gained or discovered skills I didn't know I had. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget!
Links to the posts on social media:
Aionesei Elena - Diana:
Dissemination Articles:
1. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14WFVN5xmud/
2. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GSN6jux58/
Buliga Maria-Adelina
1. personal experience, feelings, and reflections about the PEMEHECON Professional Development Activity
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DWHn4TQj4EfLAuSKCOVzhd2FGccwhnt0V6pjGk0/
2. Description of activities, creative methods used (arts, theatre, dance), and competences gained
Donea Mădălina-Elena: