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Project No. KA152-YOU-78A03016
About the Project
Project Goal – Mindful Inner Peace via Nature-Connection
The project Mindful Inner Peace via Nature-Connection aims to sustainably strengthen the mental well-being of young people with post-migrant perspectives and transcultural backgrounds. At its core is the active involvement of youth in their personal development, sense of self-efficacy, and engagement in social processes.
A central objective is to use nature-based methods as effective tools for managing stress and anxiety. Through mindful experiences in natural environments, participants learn to engage more consciously with themselves and to strengthen their emotional resilience and inner resources.
The project places a special emphasis on:
The overall goal is to promote self-efficacy in dealing with psychological challenges and to create spaces where young people can actively shape their lives and surroundings.
Youth Exchange (International Youth Encounter):
36 young people from five countries will take part in an international exchange, with a focus on mindfulness and mental well-being. Nature-based activities and forest pedagogy will serve as central tools to enhance emotional health while deepening intercultural understanding and connection.
Workshops, Networking and Dialogue:
Interactive workshops, guided discussions, and open peer-to-peer exchanges will raise awareness around mental health and provide a safe and supportive space for shared experiences.
Peer Support and Group Dynamics:
A peer network will be created to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and to foster intercultural bonds that can continue beyond the project’s duration.
Digital Content Creation:
Participants will create podcasts, vlogs, and social media content to reflect on and share their learning experiences and acquired skills.
Theme: Sustainability, Intercultural Learning & Empowerment through Experiential (Nature-Based) Education
Target Group: Young people from across Europe (Ukraine, Spain, Austria, Italy, Romania)
Duration: 8 days, approx. 42 hours of program time
Location: Neusiedl am See, Austria
This international youth exchange brings together young people from five European countries to explore sustainability, environmental awareness, and local ways of living. The program centers around non-formal education methods, connection, and active participation.
The entire program is rooted in non-formal and experiential learning, including:
This approach fosters social skills, self-efficacy, and intercultural sensitivity in a supportive, inclusive learning environment.
Youth Exchange in Neusiedl
Yoga, Bees and Paella: Young Europeans Discover Inner Strength in Neusiedl
Neusiedl am See, 23–31 August 2025
36 young adults from Austria, Romania, Spain, Italy and Ukraine spent eight intensive days together in Neusiedl. The program combined sustainability, nature-based learning, intercultural exchange, and empowerment – all built on non-formal educational methods.
The young people documented the week themselves through vlogs, daily reports, and creative texts – powerful testimonies of how intense, joyful, and enriching their shared time was.
International exchanges like MINC – Mindful Inner Peace via Nature-Connection are much more than travel. They create learning spaces beyond classrooms, foster tolerance, teamwork, and self-efficacy – and bring together young people who might never have met otherwise.
The evaluations speak for themselves: Participants consistently gave the highest ratings and described the exchange as a truly “life-changing experience.”
A heartfelt thank you goes to all the participants from Italy, Spain, Romania, Ukraine, and Austria, as well as the team leaders and the trainers from Sicily and Romania, who brought in their expertise in nature pedagogy.
Special appreciation also goes to the hosts of the Neusiedl youth hostel. With warmth, hospitality, and outstanding cooking skills, they created perfect conditions – a home away from home where everyone felt welcome and cared for.
Neusiedl am See, 23–31 August 2025 – On a sunny late-summer day, the young participants arrive: 36 young adults from Austria, Romania, Spain, Italy, and Ukraine roll up to the youth hostel in Neusiedl with their suitcases and backpacks. Many are meeting each other for the first time – and yet, only a few hours later, it becomes clear that this week will be much more than just an ordinary exchange.
The project MINC – Mindful Inner Peace via Nature-Connection seeks to show young people ways to find inner calm, cope with stress, and draw new strength from conscious experiences in nature. “It’s about reconnecting with yourself – and doing so in the heart of nature,” explains one of the trainers at the kick-off.
The first days are all about arrival. Through playful icebreakers, energizer sessions outdoors, and small group exercises, trust begins to grow quickly. By the very first evening, everyone is gathered together in the hostel’s garden, sharing stories from their home countries and laughing as if they had been friends for years.
The program begins in earnest the next day: early morning yoga, breathing exercises under the open sky, followed by a tour of the vineyards around Lake Neusiedl. The young people take part in symbolic exercises and role plays designed to make personal strengths visible. Again and again, the focus is on recognizing one’s own limits – while also discovering new forms of collaboration.
“I feel like I can try anything here without being judged,” says a participant from Romania. A young Spaniard nods in agreement: “It’s as if we are creating a new little society here, where there is a place for everyone.”
After just three days, the atmosphere is already marked by openness and curiosity. The participants begin writing their first vlogs and short reflections – spontaneous impressions that show how quickly this exchange is having an impact.
More activities lie ahead: visits to beekeepers, intercultural evenings, workshops, and group reflections. But already it is clear: in Neusiedl, a special group has come together – connected through nature, mindfulness, and the desire to learn from each other.
The MINC Youth Exchange week is now in full swing. What began with icebreakers and yoga sessions has developed into a rich program filled with nature experiences, cultural highlights, and deep conversations.
One bright morning, the group visits a local beekeeper. They not only learn how hives are built but also how closely the well-being of bees is tied to the ecological balance. “It’s impressive to see how everything is connected – nature, agriculture, our own lives,” reflects a participant from Ukraine, gently holding a frame buzzing with bees.
Later that day, they visit a vineyard. The young people hear from winemakers about sustainable viticulture and taste grapes straight from the vine. “We so often talk about sustainability in theory – but here we see how it works in practice,” remarks a young participant from Italy.
Evenings are dedicated to intercultural exchange. Each group hosts a cultural night with music, food, and stories from their country. On the Spanish night, guitars play, people dance, and a large paella is shared. The Ukrainian night becomes an emotional highlight: the young people mark their country’s Independence Day with traditional songs, symbols, and heartfelt reflections on war and hope. Many listeners are visibly moved.
Amid all the excursions and celebrations, there is also space for mindfulness: tai chi under trees, synergy practices in the forest, silent reflection exercises by the lake and in the hostel garden. Time and again, the focus returns to finding an inner point of calm – and learning how to carry it back into daily life.
The participants document their experiences in vlogs and short reports. “For the first time, I feel that my voice really counts,” sums up one young woman. “Here, we can try out what it means to actively shape society.”
By midweek, it is clear: this youth exchange is more than just a meeting. It is a place of lived democracy, sustainable learning, and friendships that cross borders.
After eight intensive days of encounters, nature experiences, and intercultural exchange, the MINC Youth Exchange in Neusiedl am See draws to a close. What remains are memories, new friendships, and the sense that something truly special has been created.
The final weekend focuses on reflection and evaluation. During daily walk and talk rounds and feedback circles, participants look back: What did they learn, and how have they changed? Many speak of gaining confidence, others emphasize how valuable it was to experience themselves outside of school and grades. “I’ve realized that even in difficult times, I can find strength within myself,” says a participant from Spain, softly but with conviction.
A dedicated Youthpass workshop – the European certificate for non-formal learning – makes visible the skills strengthened during the week: teamwork, communication, resilience, and intercultural sensitivity.
The closing evening is full of emotions. Each group prepares a creative performance: music, theater, stories. Then come hugs, tears, and laughter – a colorful mix of languages and feelings. “It feels as though we have found a second family here,” says a young woman from Romania.
Special recognition is given to the team leaders, who supported and guided the group throughout. Warm thanks also go to the hosts of the youth hostel in Neusiedl – for their openness, care, delicious cooking, and for creating the perfect atmosphere.
The evaluations speak for themselves: nearly all participants gave the exchange the highest marks, many calling it a “life-changing experience.” The fact that the young people documented the week themselves in vlogs and daily reports makes it even more tangible. These are the voices of a generation searching for new paths – and here they were given the chance to try them.
As the group departs, the week ends, but the echo remains. The project MINC – Mindful Inner Peace via Nature-Connection has shown how nature, mindfulness, and intercultural community can help young people find strength and step with confidence into the future.
Project Partners
Project Duration
May 1st, 2025 – April 30th, 2026
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
