Energize Your Body, Optimize Your Life: Strengthening Healthy Living and Sustainable Youth Work

The "Energize Your Body, Optimize Your Life" Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project took place in Klagenfurt, Austria, from 7 to 14 September 2025, hosted by FI Gesundheits- und Sportverein. The project brought together youth workers from Türkiye, Poland, Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, and Austria with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles, increasing awareness of the positive impact of sport on individual and community well-being, encouraging environmental responsibility, and strengthening international cooperation among youth workers. Through a variety of non-formal learning activities, participants enhanced their professional competences while exchanging experiences, good practices, and innovative approaches to youth work.

The programme placed a strong emphasis on personal development and self-awareness through interactive reflection activities that encouraged participants to recognise their strengths, achievements, motivations, and the ways they could positively contribute to others. Sharing personal experiences within an open and supportive environment strengthened trust, empathy, and communication among participants while creating opportunities for collaborative and spontaneous learning. These activities fostered stronger group cohesion and demonstrated the value of self-reflection as a foundation for effective youth work.

Another key component of the project explored the relationship between sport and mental well-being. Scientific presentations, discussions, and practical exercises highlighted how regular physical activity contributes to stress management, motivation, self-confidence, emotional well-being, and improved sleep quality. Participants also practised breathing techniques, stretching exercises, and simple physical activities that can easily be integrated into everyday life. Collaborative discussions encouraged youth workers to develop creative ideas for promoting physical activity in their own communities, combining scientific knowledge with practical solutions that can be transferred into future youth projects.

Practical outdoor activities introduced participants to local parks, walking routes, and sports facilities while demonstrating how physical activity can become an inclusive community experience. Through guided exercise stations focusing on warm-up, endurance, strength, flexibility, meditation, and breathing techniques, participants experienced sport as both a physical and social activity that encourages teamwork and active participation. Environmental sustainability was further promoted through an ecological workshop where participants transformed recycled materials into functional and creative products. By applying recycling techniques in practice, they strengthened their environmental awareness while discovering innovative ways to promote sustainable lifestyles within youth work.

The project also provided valuable opportunities for reflection and intercultural exchange. Evaluation sessions encouraged participants to assess their learning outcomes, identify challenges, and provide constructive recommendations for future activities through an interactive colour-card feedback method. These reflection processes contributed to improving the quality and effectiveness of non-formal education activities. The intercultural evening celebrated the traditions, music, clothing, and cultural heritage of each participating country, fostering mutual respect, intercultural dialogue, and lasting international friendships. Overall, "Energize Your Body, Optimize Your Life" successfully combined healthy living, mental well-being, environmental sustainability, and international cooperation, equipping youth workers with practical knowledge, innovative methods, and valuable experiences to strengthen their future work with young people.