Energize Your Body, Optimize Your Life: Cultural Night Strengthens International Friendship and Healthy Living

Craft Education Bulgaria proudly took part as a partner in the Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project "Energize Your Body, Optimize Your Life" (Project No. 2025-1-AT01-KA153-YOU-000299912), coordinated by FI Gesundheits- und Sportverein. Held in Klagenfurt, Austria, from 7 to 14 September 2025, the project brought together youth workers from Austria, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Türkiye to exchange good practices, develop innovative approaches to health promotion, and strengthen their professional competences in encouraging active and healthy lifestyles among young people.

Throughout the activities, participants explored various aspects of healthy living, including balanced nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and personal well-being. Inspirational sessions, self-assessment exercises, scientific seminars, and practical workshops encouraged youth workers to reflect on their own lifestyles while developing practical strategies that could be transferred into their future youth work. Participants also created nutrition and physical activity plans, discussed evidence-based approaches to health, and examined common misconceptions about healthy living through interactive learning methods.

The programme combined learning with hands-on community engagement and personal development. Participants conducted field research with local residents to better understand public attitudes toward nutrition and exercise, strengthening their communication, research, and analytical skills. Creative activities, including discussions inspired by short films and collaborative reflections, encouraged critical thinking, open dialogue, and the exchange of different perspectives while reinforcing the value of intercultural learning within youth work.

One of the most memorable highlights of the project was the series of Cultural Nights, where participants proudly presented their countries through traditional food, music, dances, customs, and cultural heritage. These evenings created a vibrant atmosphere of friendship and mutual respect, allowing participants to experience the richness of each culture while strengthening intercultural dialogue. By celebrating diversity and sharing national traditions, the Cultural Nights became a powerful example of how Erasmus+ projects build lasting international connections beyond educational activities.

The project concluded each learning phase with reflection and evaluation sessions, enabling participants to assess their progress, share experiences, and identify the competences they had developed. Overall, “Energie für Ihren Körper, optimieren Sie Ihr Leben” successfully combined healthy lifestyle education, evidence-based learning, practical youth work methods, and intercultural exchange, leaving participants better equipped to promote health, well-being, and international cooperation within their own communities.