From June 20 to 27, the youth exchange "More Energy, Less Stress" took place in Ľadonhora—an Erasmus+ project focused on stress management and the mental well-being of young people. The KERIC team organized it in collaboration with partner organizations Līdzdalības Jaunatnes Organizācija (Latvia), CODEC Europe (Belgium), Vagabond NGO (Serbia), and Engelsiz Toplum ve Gençlik Derneği (Turkey). The project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ program.

The exchange brought together 38 young people aged 16–22 from Turkey, Latvia, Belgium, Serbia, and Slovakia. The program was led by a team of KERIC ESC volunteers—Sinem Seviç, Saliha Aliyeva, Florian Dobigeon, Noa Bertrand, and Chiara Bernocchi—with support from KERIC staff.

What the program looked like

Each day began with an energizer activity prepared by one of the participating countries for the others—giving participants the opportunity to showcase their own activities and inspire one another. The program also included international cuisine evenings, where each country presented its traditional dishes, which greatly helped break the ice and foster close relationships among the participants.

The topics of stress and energy were explored from multiple angles. Groups alternated between activities focused on mental health—self-reflection and relaxation in nature—and sports activities, including the energizer “tied-legs soccer”—a game where players’ legs are tied together, requiring extra coordination and teamwork. The program concluded with breathing exercises and a group dance.

The organizer’s perspective: an interview with Sinem Sevic

Sinem Sevic, a KERIC ESC volunteer from Turkey and one of the main organizers of the exchange, described why the team chose this particular theme:

“We thought about young people and how much stress they face in life—that’s why we wanted to create activities focused on managing it. We really need that in life.”

The biggest challenge for the four-member team was coordinating such a large group:

“It was tough at first, but once we got halfway through the exchange, it was really enjoyable. We could see which participants were enjoying it and which weren’t as much—but in the end, everyone had a great time.”

Sinem also emphasized the importance of flexibility when working with young people:

"If someone doesn’t want to participate in something, we have to have a Plan B up our sleeve—we can’t force them. I learned a lot about organization, planning, and openness toward other cultures."

When asked what the exchange gave her as an organizer, she replied that, in addition to managerial experience, it was also the opportunity to meet people she had never met before:

"I had never met Latvians or Belgians before. It was great to learn about their culture and gain so much insight into group management."

Exchange Photo Gallery

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View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.keric.sk/en/workshops-and-trainings/1788-more-energy-less-stress-erasmus-youth-exchange-2026-in-ladonhora-keric-2#sigProId8e38b8b3c2

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Thank you to all participants, partner organizations, and our ESC team for a job well done. Follow us—we’re planning more youth exchanges!

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