📌ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Mental health plays an important role in everyone’s life. A mentally healthy person works more productively and is capable of contributing more to his/her surroundings. It is clear that mental disorders could lead to serious problems and wasted human potential. A mental disorder is a health condition involving changes in thinking, emotions or behaviours (e.g. depression). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than a quarter of the European adult population has experienced at least one mental disorder during the past year, e.g. depression or anxiety. Yet, only a fraction of them sought professional help. Mental disorders have a significant impact, which consequences affect not only the individual but also the economic sector. Thus, it is important to bring the issues to light and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. The core goal of the current project “Be Kind to Your Mind” is to increase knowledge about mental health between youngsters and the general public. In order to reach this goal, the following objectives have been set:

• Raising awareness about the existing mental health situation;
• Reducing prejudices towards the mentally ill;
• Defining what is mental health and why it’s important;
• Explaining how mental disorders are diagnosed and treated;
• Advising youth how to live a healthier lifestyle and cope with the surrounding stress;
• Finding ways of communicating with people having a mental disorder and ways to support them.

Besides, the project will allow the participating youngsters to develop their: 1) communication and 2) intercultural skills; 3) analytical and 4) education skills through a range of workshops and exercises. After completing this program, the participants will acquire the following competencies: 1) knowledge about mental health and related issues, 2) ways to cope with surrounding stress and maintain/improve mental well-being; and 3) awareness on how to help themselves and people who suffer from a mental disorder.

📌FINANCES & TRAVEL BUDGET LIMITS:

• Accommodation, living and other project-related expenses are 100% funded by the EU.
• 100 % of the travel costs, but no more than the maximum limit of 275 EUR, will be reimbursed upon presenting all necessary tickets & invoices.

We will reimburse the travel expenses after the mobility by bank transfer, in accordance with the Erasmus+ framework. In order to make the reimbursement, it is compulsory that you have all the necessary documents with you. If your travel costs exceed the official limits, the reimbursement will be limited to the maximum amount of travel costs allocated for each country. If you fail to provide all the necessary travel documents, we will be unable to reimburse you. For plane travel, the original documents that we need are:

• Tickets and Boarding Passes
• Invoice / Receipt
• Keep your bus/train tickets as well! Travel by cars/taxis is not reimbursed.

📌MONEY:

The official currency in Malta is Euro. The prices in Malta are not high as well (e.g. bus ride - 1,5 EUR, pizza – 9 EUR). You can check the cost of living in Malta.

📌GETTING TO MALTA:

Flying to Malta is easy. Malta is comfortably be reached within a few hours from many cities worldwide. All arrive at Malta's one international airport, which is no more than 45 minutes by car from anywhere on the main island, or a little longer by bus.

Arriving in Malta by ferry can be a way of exploring other countries along the journey and experiencing other cultures. Apart from cruise liners, Malta is served by several major ferries lines.

Firstly, you should find a flight to Malta (MLA) airport. The arrival day is the 25th of November and the departure day is the 3rd of December. Try to find a suitable option for the flights on these days.

📌ACCOMMODATION & FOOD:

Participants will stay in the Zak House Malta. Situated in a central area of Malta, is the ideal place for youth organizations to organize live-ins, retreats, exchanges, seminars, meetings, workshops, daily group sessions, indoor and outdoor activities. Furthermore, it is flanking Sliema and St Julian’s.

Rooms: with 2-5 beds. Participants should bring towels & bed linen (if you can’t bring them, there will be a possibility to rent them in the facility for 5€). The Main Activity Room is located in the same building. WiFi internet connection is available (however, might be a bit limited). Organizers will provide participants with three meals per day and two coffee breaks. Food will be served at the hotel or cafeterias nearby. We strongly recommend each participant inform the organizers about any special dietary needs in advance.

BASIC RULES: All the participants will be expected to be present and active in all the activities unless being ill. Unauthorized absence from the activities and workshops won’t be tolerated. Smoking is prohibited everywhere inside buildings (the guest house levies a fine of 50 EUR), thus all the smokers will have to go outside or to specially designated areas for a cigarette. Any damages to the property of the guest house or the organizers will be deducted from the travel reimbursements of the ones responsible.

📌ADDITIONAL STAY:

The hosting organization is covering the accommodation ONLY for the stay during the mobility. In case of earlier arrival or later departure, participants themselves must cover the accommodation. In addition, we can only cover tickets 2 days earlier or after the project date. If you are planning to stay longer after the project or arrive earlier, please inform us before booking your ticket. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee your reimbursement. Please note any indirect routes taken for personal travel will not be reimbursed.

📌PROJECT‘S FACILITATORS

Samanta Tumpyte is an experienced youth worker. She has been working as a youth worker and facilitating local and international projects on different topics for 3 years. Furthermore, she finished her Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Spanish Philology. Following her studies, she continued her traineeship as a psychologist’s assistant in Malta and had meaningful experiences during her work with people from different cultures and who were facing various psychological problems. She will guide and support the participants in their personal, social and educational development to help them reach their full potential.

Christian Briffa is a warranted educator who has years of experience in youth work and addressing multicultural audiences. Christian’s main profession is that of an architect and civil engineer. Through his skills in design, our youths will be mentored on film, photography, use of digital tools and leaflet/poster design for dissemination purposes in the YE activity section. He also works as a coach and player with Mellieha Basketball Club, equipping him with ample experience in training young athletes with mixed abilities. His organizational skills and experience in Erasmus+ projects left Briffa with an everlasting passion to share his knowledge with youth from other countries.

📌DEADLINE: 17th October 2021

📌!!!!IT IS MANDATORY THAT ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE FULLY VACCINATED!!!!📌

This is a requirement by the Malta government.