Culture Lab: Exploring Mental Balance Through Traditions

CULTURE LAB MENTAL BALANCE AND DEEP AWARENESS THROUGH TRADITIONS
In today's world, young people face many challenges such as global instability, political instability, refugee crisis, war, post-pandemic traumas and economic uncertainties. Developed in line with the priorities of the Erasmus+ program, which aims to improve the well-being of young people, support their mental health and promote their personal development, Culture Lab: Mental Balance and Deep Awareness through Traditions project aims to increase the ability of individuals to cope with stress and gain inner peace and awareness. By promoting cultural exchange among young people across Europe, the project aims to explore how traditional meditation and relaxation techniques can be applied in modern life. Based on the Erasmus+ priorities of inclusion and diversity, mental health and well-being, social inclusion of young people, strengthening intercultural dialogue and promoting green and sustainable practices, the project will support young people to develop ways of coping with stress, anxiety and depression by exploring the healing rituals of different cultures. Through the practices offered within the scope of the project, participants will discover their own cultural heritage, experience mind-relaxation and mindfulness techniques offered by different traditions, and at the same time increase their ecological awareness through activities in touch with nature.
Through the music and aromatherapy experience, participants will get to know the traditional music healing techniques used in the Ottoman period and discover how music relaxes the mind. During the music therapy activities at Edirne Sultan Bayezid II Complex Health Campus, discussions will be held on the effects of music on the subconscious mind, so young people will learn interactively how this method can be applied in modern stress management. Sessions with different aromatherapy oils, combined with conscious breathing techniques, will create deep awareness and help individuals gain mental calmness.
Through nature walks and bird watching activities in Kırklareli Floodplain Forests and İğneada, participants will directly experience the impact of nature on inner peace, learn to read nature's signs and practice staying in the moment.
Through the crafts and meditative experience, participants will be introduced to a traditional relaxing craft from their home country, while learning the Turkish cultural art of marbling to improve their focusing skills. Marbling is an art that helps to stay in the moment, helps individuals to clear their minds and this process will directly contribute to the process of mental calmness and meditation.
In addition, with the Turkish coffee and fortune-telling activity, which is considered as a traditional ritual, participants will experience deep focus and subconscious flow during the coffee preparation process and increase their inner awareness. The Turkish coffee preparation ceremony and the coffee fortune telling ritual will enable individuals to connect with their inner voices through mindfulness and thus gain mental peace.
In addition to having positive effects on mental health and well-being, the project also aims to promote intercultural dialogue and inclusion. Young people from different countries in Europe will share the relaxation rituals of their own cultures, creating a common experience and increasing their social inclusion in the process. At the same time, ecological awareness will be raised by integrating with nature through nature walks and bird watching activities, and awareness will be raised on sustainable practices. With the experience-oriented learning methodology, participants will manage their own learning processes and take active roles during the project and adopt a sustainable and conscious lifestyle promoted by Erasmus+. Thus, they will have an experience that supports their development not only mentally but also socially and culturally.