Noortevahetus NATURE’S HEALERS Eestis, Kirikukülas

In the serene beauty of the Estonian countryside, a unique project took place. Young people from Estonia, Romania, Hungary, Spain, and Portugal gathered in a tranquil clearing deep within an Estonian forest. The project’s focus was on nature, meditation, and mindfulness.

Throughout the project, we participated in a variety of engaging workshops that helped us better understand ourselves and connect more deeply with nature. One of the highlights was a special theater workshop where we learned to express our emotions through body language, eventually performing scenes embodying the spirits of nature. We also learned to identify plants using smartphone apps like Flora Incognita and Mushroom ID. This newfound knowledge was put to the test during a foraging trip in the forest, where we identified various plants and collected chanterelles, which we later prepared and enjoyed together.

Beyond these activities, we had the chance to experience traditional Estonian leisure pursuits, such as canoeing near the local town of Tõrva. We also shared our cultures with one another by organizing cultural nights and learning each other’s national dances. To reflect on our experiences, we paired up with learning buddies to discuss what we had learned and the personal growth we had achieved.

On the final day, we came together to summarize our learning experiences, reflect on our contributions, and consider how we had overcome our fears. We also completed our Youthpasses, an essential element of every youth exchange program. Everyone left with a wealth of new knowledge, international experience, and a sense of fulfillment, though we were also a bit saddened by how quickly the project had come to an end.