Project Name: “Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Mentally: Embrace the Unknown.” MENTAL COMFORT
Agreement No: 2024-3-CY01-KA152-YOU-000288301
Duration: From 1/03/2025 till 28/02/2026 (12 months)
Activity: Youth Exchange in Cyprus for 36 participants and 12 leaders + 2 stakeholders at Hylatio Tourist Village in Pissouri for learning how to improve your mental health through sports and healthy lifestyle. www.hylatio.com.cy
Activity dates: 12 to 19 of October 2025 (8 days, including traveling dates)
Applicant Organisation: Polychoros Voroklinis, https://sites.google.com/view/polychoros-voroklinis/
Coordinating Organisation: NGO ACPELIA, www.acpelia.org
Coordinator: Nikolas Nikolaou email: nicckolas44@gmail.com;
Facilitators: Polyxeni Nikolaou, Boghos Avetikian
Age for participants: 15 - 19 years old
Topics: Mental Health, Comfort Zone, Physical activity importance.
Countries: 6 participants + 2 leaders from 6 countries (Cyprus, Portugal, Lithuania, Spain, Poland and Romania)
Travelling food and accommodation all are paid from the program
6 youngsters (ages 15 to 19) and 2 leaders will be selected from our organisation.
Project topic:
Stepping beyond what feels safe, pushing boundaries, exploring new territories is like figuring out mental challenges and fears. In today's modern world, where convenience often keeps young people stuck. More and more they are realizing how important it’s for personal growth to try and learn new things. Studies show that people are curious about what happens when they step into the unknown. Just as physical activity can make them feel better mentally, confronting unfamiliar situations can change the way young people see things and make them stronger internally. If youngsters don’t know much about mental health, it’s like they are not sure what’s outside their comfort zone.
In addition, many people don't recognize the signs of their own problems, just as they may not know what lies beyond their familiar surroundings. But just as moving bodies can help to deal with stress and feel happier, taking on new challenges can make young people be braver and more able to deal with difficult times. When youngsters combine this exploration with other kinds of help, they can make really big changes in how they grow and see themselves.
Overall, stepping out of our comfort zone and understanding mental health are very similar. In both cases, young people need to be brave, bounce back from setbacks, and be open to new experiences. Just as regular physical activity can lift the spirits and help to connect with others, facing fears and trying new things can open up to new worlds of possibility and growth. When encouraging people to break out of what feels safe, it helps to build a society where people are stronger, more flexible, and excited to explore the unknown.
Main Idea of the Project:
The main idea of the Youth Exchange Project "Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Mentally: Embrace the Unknown.” is to encourage young people to challenge themselves and to try new things. The project aims to create a supportive environment where participants can push past their usual boundaries and explore unfamiliar territory. By stepping out of their comfort zones, youngsters will have the opportunity to grow personally and develop important life skills. By participating in a variety of activities, challenges, and exercises such as outdoor adventures, cultural exchanges, and teamwork exercises, participants will learn to embrace their doubts and adapt to new situations.
The Youth Exchange Project aims to empower young people to take risks, overcome fears, and discover their full potential. By stepping out of their comfort zones, participants will develop valuable skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. The project also provides opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery, as youngsters learn more about themselves and what they are capable of achieving.
Overall, the Youth Exchange Project “Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Mentally: Embrace the Unknown.” is designed to inspire young people to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new challenges. Through experiential learning and personal development activities, participants will gain the confidence and skills they need to navigate life's concerns and pursue their goals with courage and determination.
10 Scientifically Validated Mental Benefits of Sports
It has been scientifically proven that stepping out of comfort zone has a positive effect on mental and emotional well-being. When you try new things and take on challenges, your brain releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical that lifts your mood and motivates you to keep going. Studies have shown that regularly pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone can increase your stamina, allowing you to cope better with stress and setbacks. It also helps to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem as you realize that you are capable of overcoming obstacles and failures. Also, trying new activities can stimulate your brain and improve your memory and rational function over time.
Improved learning: Stepping out of comfort zone exposes to new experiences and challenges, which can stimulate brain activity and improve learning ability.
Increased resilience: Facing unfamiliar situations strengthens resilience as to learn to adapt and go on in the face of adversity.
Improved problem-solving skills: Taking on challenges encourages creative thinking and problem solving, learning to overcome obstacles.
Expanded comfort zone: By regularly stepping out of comfort zone, expand it over time and become more adaptable and open to new experiences.
Increased self-confidence: Successfully overcoming challenges boosts self-confidence and self-esteem, becoming more aware of the ability to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.
Better emotional regulation: Facing discomfort and uncertainty helps to develop emotional resilience and regulation so that young people can better manage stress and anxiety.
Increased creativity: Exploring new experiences and perspectives enhances creativity by stimulating innovative thinking and novel problem solving.
Strengthened relationships: Stepping out of comfort zone often requires collaboration with others, which strengthens interpersonal relationships and teamwork skills.
Increased motivation: Setting and achieving goals outside of comfort zone increases motivation and drive as experience the satisfaction of personal growth and fulfillment.
Improved Well-being: Embracing new challenges and experiences can lead to greater life satisfaction and overall well-being, expand horizons and fulfill potential.
The Project specific objectives are:
The Specific objectives of this Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project on stepping out of the comfort zone mentally, healthy youth and practical skills learning are in line with the objectives of the Erasmus+ program, which aims to promote intercultural learning, personal development and social inclusion of young people as well as mental health awareness.
Promoting mental health awareness: Promoting awareness and understanding of mental health issues among young people through educational workshops, discussions and resources.
Encouraging physical activity: Encouraging young people to engage in regular physical activity as a means of improving mental health and wellbeing.
Building resilience: Providing participants with skills and strategies to better cope with stress, anxiety and other mental health issues.
Promoting social connections: Creating opportunities for participants to build supportive relationships and networks to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Strengthening young people's leadership skills: To empower young people to take a leadership role in promoting mental health awareness and advocating for positive change in their communities.
Provide access to resources: Connecting participants to resources and support services related to mental health to ensure they have access to the help they need.
Promote healthy wellness: Emphasize the importance of healthy wellness by addressing the interrelationship between physical, emotional, and social health.
Evaluate impact: Evaluate the effectiveness of the project in achieving its goals using quantitative and qualitative measures, including participant feedback and behavior outcomes.
Promote diversity and inclusion: Ensure that the project is inclusive and accessible to all participants, regardless of background, ethnicity or ability.
Promoting sustainable practices: Promote sustainable mental health and physical activity practices to support long-term behavior change and community engagement beyond the duration of the project.
Project activities will involve:
· Get to know each other: Activities that will support participants to get to know each other, explore the cross-cultural group, and feel comfortable with each other.
· Skill-Building Workshops: skill-building workshops focused on coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness practices to help participants better manage stress and improve emotional well-being.
Creative Expression Sessions: Facilitate creative expression sessions through art, music, and storytelling, providing participants with alternative ways to explore and express their emotions.
Meditation and breathing exercises: Promote relaxation and stress reduction, improve concentration.
Celebratory Events: Host celebratory events and recognition ceremonies to acknowledge participants' achievements, milestones, and contributions to promoting mental health awareness and well-being in their communities.
Educational Workshops: to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues, covering topics such as stress management, anxiety reduction, and building strength.
Physical Activity Sessions: regular physical activity sessions such as sports tournaments, fitness classes, and outdoor adventures.
· Methods used: Icebreakers and energizers, brainstorming and discussions, skill-building workshops and sports activities, cultural exchanges, team-building activities, several local visits, reflection groups, presentations, and more. The main aim is to get out of the comfort zone.
Expected impact on participants and organisations.
Participants will improve their mental health awareness. Gain a deeper understanding of what is the comfort zone and how to get out. Think outside the box. Learn different coping strategies and team-building techniques to better manage emotions, anxiety, overcome fears, build stronger mindset.
Participants increase physical activity through different sessions. Adopt a healthier lifestyle, develop habits for regular exercise.
Organizations increase participation, by offering quality programs that address the emotional needs of participants.
Organizations increase their reputation by showing how important it is to get out of their comfort zone.
Aplication for Interest of Participation: https://forms.gle/7GGiyXeWn8nwvJJx9
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