Project Partners: Universe 8 Foundation – Bulgaria, Türk Psikoloji Öğrencileri Çalışma Grubu (TPÖÇG) – Turkiye, Mission: Reconnect, z.s – Czech Republic, Edukacija za budućnost Praskozorje – Serbia

Summary:
The project 'Dance Me to Leadership, Resilience, Stress Management and Art Therapy’ aims to reach the following objectives with the aim of increasing the well-being of young people and also those working with them:

• to equip youth workers with tools and methods to be used to deal with stress and anxiety and prevent burnout;
• to raise the ability of youth workers to include movement-based and art-based activities in their work, especially dance, as a tool for improving psychical and mental health, raising their resilience and at the same time developing leadership, teamwork, and communication competencies;
• to increase the competencies of youth workers with new work practices, methods, and tools focused on improving the mental health and well-being of young people, reducing their stress and anxiety, and supporting the development of the competencies of youth workers;
• to support sharing practices across participants’ countries tackling the issues of resilience, stress management, leadership skills, and well-being in relation to using art-based and movement-based methods;
• to create space for brainstorming new ideas for local and international youth projects and increase the quality of youth work delivered by the consortium;
• to share lessons learned beyond the consortium through online (interviews) and face-to-face activities in the participant’s communities.

The project 'Dance Me to Leadership, Resilience, Stress Management and Art Therapy’ will include one international 5 days professional development activity that will bring together 20 participants representing North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Turkiye.

Key target group:

• youth workers, educators, and leaders in need of developing their competencies enabling them to design and deliver quality youth activities at local, national, and international levels addressing anxiety and stress and contributing to improving mental health and well-being;
• youth workers, educators, and leaders in need to get to know tools, and methods primarily based on body movement (dance), using art therapy that is considered to be innovative in the context of their work and increasing their abilities to use these methods at their work with young people, including those with fewer opportunities;
• in need of new impulses enabling them to grow as youth workers, educators, and leaders to understand better their solid sides and sides to be improved, to discuss common challenges, and establish a support system including other youth workers, partnerships, and networks;
• with motivation to work on debunking stereotypes related to the mental health and well-being of youth workers and young people, to include at their work new tools and methods, and increase the quality of the activities that they are delivering;
• with a diverse range of experiences (from newcomers to experienced youth workers, working with young people for five years and more);
• with interest in working in mix-intercultural groups, ability to communicate in English, ability to take part in the preparatory activities and international activities and be actively involved in the follow-up period and take part in organizing local actions;

Impact and results:

The project 'Dance Me to Leadership, Resilience, Stress Management and Art Therapy’ aims to positively impact several levels. Firstly, the project aims to equip the participating organizations with new tools and methods that will increase the well-being of their youth workers and staff members, and it will increase their capacities to address anxiety and stress among young people and provide them with an opportunity to improve their well-being, as well.

Furthermore, the project will be for the members of the consortium an opportunity to explore innovative tools based on using dance and body movement and increase their capacities to use these tools at their work with various groups of young people, including young people with fewer opportunities as tools aiming to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Moreover, by utilizing dance as a methodology for leadership development, participants will engage in a dynamic process that fosters teamwork, communication, and adaptability. Through rhythmic expression and collaborative choreography, individuals will learn to lead by example, inspire others, and navigate challenges with grace and resilience, ultimately cultivating a new generation of confident and empowered leaders. Besides the impact on the organizations directly involved in the consortium, the project will also have a positive impact on the individuals and organizations beyond the consortium that will take an active part in the dissemination activities and/or will reach the visibility activities of the project.