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The “Self-Care and Inclusion” Bootcamp in La Voz de Galicia
On 21 July, La Voz de Galicia published a feature on the “Self-Care and Inclusion” bootcamp, which we organised in Lugo together with Concordia Academia (Romania) and co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme. We brought together 18 professionals from Spain and Romania who work with people in vulnerable situations.
The article includes testimonies from several participants and describes how we closed the event with a walk along a stretch of the Camino de Santiago. It also explains that this was the first in-person activity of the INCLUDE programme, which will continue with online coaching sessions and a mobility to Romania in October.
We thank La Voz de Galicia and Lucía Blanco for their interest and for the space dedicated to our work.
Our interview about the “self-care and inclusion” in Lugo
From 13 to 16 July, the Lar de Artemis association organised the “Self-care and Inclusion” Bootcamp in Lugo, a project co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.
Our goal was to provide practical tools to mental health and social inclusion professionals, who often care for others and need to care for themselves too. Over these days we brought together professionals from Spain and Romania to share experiences, learn together and strengthen a common network.
In the interview that accompanies this post, some of the participants tell us how they experienced the bootcamp and what they take away from it. We invite you to watch it.
We thank everyone who took part in the bootcamp, and the European Union, through Erasmus+, for making it possible.
Bootcamp on Self-Care and Inclusion: A Journey of Learning, Connection and Growth
Bootcamp “Self-Care and Inclusion”
Bootcamp “Self-Care and Inclusion”
From 13 to 16 July, Lugo hosted the first mobility activity of the INCLUDE – INspired LeaDers for Empowered Organisations and CommUnity Growth project, funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme and coordinated by Lar de Artemis (Spain) in partnership with CONCORDIA Academia (Romania).
The “Self-Care and Inclusion” Bootcamp brought together 18 professionals from Spain and Romania, including teachers, educators, social workers, psychologists, association members and directors, coaches, youth workers and other professionals working in the social and educational fields. They were accompanied by two trainers and a professional facilitator during the Camino experience.
Four days to learn, connect and grow
Over four days, participants took part in training sessions, experiential activities, group work, real-life case studies and reflection exercises. The aim was not only to gain new knowledge and practical tools, but also to create a safe space where professionals could share experiences, identify common challenges and explore new ways of supporting people and communities.
The Bootcamp focused on inclusion, diversity, trauma, mental health, resilience and self-care, with a strong emphasis on connecting learning with participants’ professional realities.
The main topics explored were:
Understanding Inclusion
Exploring barriers, stereotypes and the effects of exclusion and inclusion, while looking at European approaches and policies related to inclusion and diversity.
Dimensions of Diversity
Reflecting on how diversity can be integrated into organisational processes and how organisations can become more inclusive at every level.
Understanding Trauma and Mental Health
Exploring trauma, forced displacement and professional burnout, while learning to recognise signs and identify appropriate ways to respond.
Resilience and Self-Care Practices
Discovering practical strategies to support professionals working in the social field, including caring communities, conflict mediation and non-violent communication.
A Day on the Camino
Using outdoor and experiential learning to explore resilience, collaboration, personal reflection and connection.
A Day on the Camino
The final day took participants outside the training room and onto the Camino de Santiago for a guided experience combining nature, movement and reflection.
The experience offered an opportunity to strengthen the connections created throughout the Bootcamp and to reflect on what they had learned and experienced together. It was a meaningful and symbolic way to close the Bootcamp, creating space to slow down, connect with themselves and others, and carry the learning experience beyond the training room.
What happens next?
The Bootcamp was only the beginning of the INCLUDE journey.
Over the coming months, participants will bring the learning back to their organisations through a Team Coaching programme, involving 3–4 colleagues from each organisation. Supported by professional coaches from CONCORDIA Academia, the teams will work on their Diversity & Inclusion Action Plans, strengthen inclusive practices and explore how these approaches can be integrated into their everyday programmes and organisational work.
The next major step will be the Hackathon “Innovate for Inclusion & Sustainable Communities”, taking place in Romania on 1–2 October 2026. During this intensive two-day event, participants will work collaboratively to transform their ideas into concrete project proposals focused on diversity, inclusion and resilience.
From individual learning, to stronger teams, to concrete projects — the INCLUDE journey continues.
INCLUDE – INspired LeaDers for Empowered organizations & inclusive communities!
My experience in the Step Up project
Hello, my name is Paula Uz, I am 16 years old and I live in the beautiful city of Lugo, in Galicia, in the north of Spain.
This summer, I had the opportunity to take part in the “Step Up! Youth Mental Health” program — a youth exchange organized by the Lar de Artemis Association, in collaboration with:
● Le Tre Ghinee APS (Italy)
● ROSTO Solidario (Portugal)
● Yelken Gençlik Derneği (Turkey)
● IKAROS Foundation for Active Youth (Romania)
Funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.
Twenty young participants, two facilitators, and five group leaders from Italy, Portugal, Romania, Turkey, and Spain took part in the exchange.
The meeting was held in July 2025 in my beautiful walled city. From the very first day, it was an incredible experience — we shared breakfast, introduced ourselves, and with the help of the leaders, organized into groups and explored our city through a treasure hunt.
As one of the hosts, my mission was to find a series of unique historical landmarks in my city. I was joined by a group leader and four participants, one from each country. Thanks to this immersive game, I was able to show them some of Lugo’s most meaningful places such as:
● Santo Domingo Square
● Cathedral of Lugo
● Rosalía de Castro Park
● The Roman Wall and the Roman Bridge
This non-formal and inclusive learning space helped us break the ice, share laughter, stories, and experiences, and get to know each other better. I can honestly say it was a step out of my comfort zone, as until then I had never shared this kind of experience with people from other countries.
As a participant, being able to address topics such as youth mental health in a relaxed and creative way — which at first might seem not so appealing at our age — helped me grow. We practiced active listening, put ourselves in other people’s shoes, reflected, expressed our opinions with empathy, shared our personal stories, opened our Pandora’s boxes, and faced fears or situations we might never have imagined before — all in a safe space where we knew we would not be judged.
We approached all these topics from an informal and cultural methods — games, art, painting, dance, theatre, and group presentations. Although I’m used to working in groups, using English as the main language to communicate with people from different countries and cultures opened my horizons. I realized that we are not so different, even if we come from diverse backgrounds, and that the best part of sharing experiences is listening, reasoning, sharing, understanding, and supporting those who need it at the right moment.
Seeing how others perceive your strengths and weaknesses, things you might not even have noticed about yourself, helps you understand who you are and realize that your fears are not as big as they seem and that you can overcome them.
The intercultural nights were one of the highlights of the summer in my city. Sharing long conversations in such a relaxed and friendly environment helped us socialize and connect as participants.
What helped me most in my personal growth process was having the opportunity to design and lead activities, with the guidance and support of the leaders and facilitators. Convincing yourself that you are capable of creating and leading activities gives you a rush of adrenaline. It makes you believe in yourself and see that you have enough potential to do things on your own, not only for yourself but also to positively impact the well-being of others.
Being able to help in the development of society and in the personal growth of many people is, from my point of view, the best way to grow and to contribute a part of yourself — and of the group you share experiences with — to the community, and to do so naturally.
The treatment we received from the organizers throughout the project was exceptional. I would love to keep participating and collaborating with them in the development of new projects, to share what I’ve learned, keep learning, and, of course, to contribute my small part to society.
We truly need this kind of experience, especially among young people, because sometimes we feel judged and undervalued. It often seems like we don’t want to engage with the world around us or get involved in the real problems of our society. One way to show that we do care is by taking part in projects where we have a voice and a choice, where we can listen, share, and contribute our point of view.
I hope to see you all soon in another exciting Erasmus+ project!
Best regards,
Paula Uz
Proposal for Promoting and Supporting Youth Mental Health in the Education System
Our group of young volunteers from Asociacion Lar de Artemis have prepared a public policy proposal for Promoting and Supporting Youth Mental Health in the Education System as a result of their participation in the project “Our minds, Our future”.
The vision and proposals included in the document reflect the needs identified by the direct beneficiaries of the educational system and express their desire to actively contribute to the improvement of public policies in this field.
You may visualize and download the content here:
Thanks to our partners:
- IKAROS Foundation for Active Youth (Rumanía)
- Association of Young Psychologists in Bulgaria “4th April” (Bulgaria)
- Arte e Cultura Sociale (Italia)
Step Up! Youth Mental Health
“Step Up! Youth Mental Health” was a youth exchange organized by Lar de Artemis Association, in collaboration with Le Tre Ghinee APS (Italy), ROSTO Solidario (Portugal), Yelken Gençlik Derneği (Turkey) and IKAROS Foundation for Active Youth (Romania), and funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme.
What was the aim?
The project created a non-formal and inclusive learning space for 20 young people aged 16–24 and 5 group leaders from the 5 participating countries. In July, over 6 days in Lugo, participants reflected, shared experiences, and acquired tools related to youth mental health, emotional wellbeing and resilience, while also fostering youth leadership, mutual support and personal growth.
The innovative part of the project was that the young participants themselves designed and led the activities, becoming the true protagonists, supported by their group leaders and two facilitators.
Project Objectives
- Raise awareness about mental health issues affecting European youth.
- Strengthen the capacity of partner organisations to support young people with fewer opportunities, especially after the pandemic.
- Promote active participation in Erasmus+ projects and community initiatives.
Activity Topics
- Anxiety and depression in adolescents and young people.
- Identifying and managing emotions.
- Triggers and how to cope with them.
- Non-violent communication and active listening.
- Social media addiction and nutritional health.
- Body–mind connection (role play, mindfulness, dance).
- Therapeutic workshops with painting and clay.
- Mindful walk on the Camino de Santiago.
- Treasure hunt in Lugo and intercultural nights.
Results and Learning Outcomes
The participants:
- Learned to recognise and manage emotions through tools such as the emotion wheel and the emotional diary.
- Gained deeper understanding of disorders such as anxiety and depression, exploring healthy coping strategies.
- Strengthened skills in communication, empathy, leadership and teamwork.
- Experienced resilience through a one-day walk along the Camino de Santiago.
At the end of the exchange, the participants co-created a brochure with the key aspects of the project, practical tools for mental health (emotion wheel, diary, mindfulness), personal reflections, and artistic contributions. It is a resource to share with other young people, schools, and organisations.
See the brochure here.
Local Support
The project was made possible thanks to the collaboration of:
- Casa da Xuventude, which hosted participants during several days.
- Bar Ateneo, a cultural space that welcomed and supported the activities.
- Hotel Brios, which not only provided accommodation but also created a warm and friendly environment for informal gatherings.
A big thank you to all the organizations and people who made this project possible!
Festival “Our Minds, Our Future”
The “Our Minds, Our Future” Festival was the final event of the project, held at Café Ateneo in Lugo with the enthusiastic participation of young people and the dedicated support of the Lar de Artemis team.
Across both days, more than 60 participants joined, including students, teachers, association members, therapists, psychologists, social workers, and community members.
Across both days, more than 60 attendees joined the two days, including students, teachers, association members, therapists, psychologists, social workers, and community members.
The festival featured a wide range of dynamic activities. Participants engaged in open conversations about what mental health means to them, whether it should be recognized as a fundamental right, and what kind of mental health support is truly needed in schools and communities. These discussions created a space for sharing experiences and ideas, identifying challenges, and proposing meaningful changes in an open and respectful environment.
One of the most impactful moments was an art therapy session centered on resilience. In this practical workshop, participants explored ways to cope with potential difficult life events and strengthen their emotional inner resources—offering young people practical tools to face mental health struggles.
Another reflective activity, inspired by Jungian art therapy, invited everyone to explore their inner “self” and confront the hidden parts of themselves—often called the “shadow”—through creative expression and guided self-discovery.
The festival also included a forest bathing walk, offering time to relax and reconnect with nature. During the walk, participants reflected on mental health challenges, shared self-help techniques, and practiced calming breathing exercises surrounded by nature’s peace.
To close the event, the Erasmus+ programme was presented, followed by a discussion on the project’s Action Plan and the future steps to keep supporting mental health among youth.
Study Visit “Our minds, our future”
As the follow-up to our “Youth Taking Action” mobility in Bucharest, the two-day Study Visit in Lugo during December of 2024, brought together 8 participants from each country (Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, and Spain) to delve deeper into school-based mental health strategies in northern Spain. The goal was to observe best practices and adapt them into each country’s Action Plans for local schools.
They visited the high school San Xillao in Lugo, where they discovered how a dedicated wellness teacher and a guidance counselor work alongside an elected student council to put mental health at the heart of school life. Students can anonymously report bullying via bright orange inboxes, and anyone flagged as at-risk is accompanied by a teacher for safety and referred, when needed, to free public therapy. Rather than punishment, the school favors prevention: group therapy, art, and sports workshops, and creative “safe-space” activities (from extended library hours to video-game sessions) help students build resilience. Staff well-being is also championed through mindfulness, yoga, and ongoing training in trauma, diversity, and inclusive practices.
At CIFP Politécnico in Lugo, participants explored the “Youth Aware of Mental Health” (YAM) program—five immersive sessions over three weeks led by psychology-trained instructors that offer a confidential, judgment-free space for students to tackle topics like depression, stress, moral dilemmas, and even dramatized suicide attempts. The school also prioritizes well-being through thoughtfully designed communal areas (cafeteria, library, hallway seating) and a mandatory “Health and Family Interventions” course. Its leadership also fosters a culture of openness, encouraging students to raise concerns directly with teachers, tutors, or administrators.