Different languages. Different stories. Same heartbeat. For one week in the mountains of North Macedonia, youth workers from across Europe came together to slow down, reconnect with nature, and put mental well-being at the heart of youth work.
About the seminar
Aurora Network, in partnership with System & Generation, co-organised Grounded Across Cultures — an international seminar on mental well-being, nature-based learning, movement, and intercultural dialogue. From 14–20 April 2026, in Krushevo, North Macedonia, it brought together youth work professionals for a week of learning, reflection, and the exchange of practices. The project was financed by the Erasmus+ Programme and the Turkish National Agency, and implemented as part of the youth accreditation project of System & Generation.
What we explored
Over five days, nature became our classroom and movement our shared language. We began by learning each other’s names and using leaves, stones, and branches to say what words couldn’t. We explored group dynamics, comfort zones, and improvisation; walked in silence to notice the tiny worlds beneath our feet; and created personal journals painted with natural elements. We practised breathwork by the lake, found the courage to cold plunge, built herbariums of healing plants, and made art from branches and stones. We stepped into Kruševo’s history at the Makedonium museum, built trust through presence, and discovered how storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in youth work.
Key takeaways
Grounded Across Cultures reminded us that healing is everywhere — in cold water, in forgotten plants, in art made from fallen leaves, and in the stories we finally dare to write. On the final day we painted one shared canvas, planned how to bring these practices home to our communities, and said goodbyes we weren’t ready for. Five days earlier we didn’t know each other’s names; by the end, we couldn’t imagine not knowing each other. This wasn’t just a seminar about nature and mental health — it was about trust, slowing down, and the courage to breathe, create, and feel. This is not a goodbye. This is a beginning.