A Week of Pause and Renewal: All the Details of the EmpowerED Project in Portugal

Everything started with the need to take a break from the exhausting pace of modern life and reconnect with ourselves. This search took us to Portugal, where the project “EmpowerED: Pause. Reflect. Reconnect.” was held between September 21 and 28, 2025. The official goal of the project was to provide youth workers from Estonia, Italy, Portugal, Türkiye, and Poland with tools to support their mental health and prevent burnout. However, this week turned out to be much more than just a training course.

The Journey and Arrival at the “Offline” Farm

After a long journey that took almost the entire day, we finally arrived at the place where we would stay, with the help of our project coordinators. In the infopack sent to us before the project, it was mentioned that there would be no internet access on the farm. The organizers’ intention was very sweet: to encourage us to completely disconnect from social media and the chaos of the outside world for one week, and focus on the present moment. So, we had all prepared ourselves by telling people around us, “I’m going somewhere with no internet.”

By the time we arrived, it was dark, cold, and late at night. But we were welcomed warmly, with a ready dinner waiting for us. In reality, there was internet access only in one common area of the farm. This made the organizers’ purpose even more meaningful; we were not entirely cut off from the world, yet we could still keep our promise to stay away from the internet. After dinner, we went to our four-person glamping tents, which pleasantly surprised us with their comfortable beds and power sockets despite the cold.

Waking Up to Nature and Exploring the Farm

After the cold and dark night, we woke up to a completely different world in the morning. When we opened our tent doors, we were greeted by a peaceful green landscape filled with animal sounds. It felt wonderful to be at Quinta das Relvas, an eco-farm dedicated to non-formal education through art and sustainability. On the second day, the founder and manager of the farm gave us a tour of the area, telling us about the history and mission of Quinta das Relvas. This tour helped us build a deeper connection with the place we were in.

Our first-day introduction activities were also delightful. To get to know each other and find a sunny spot, we walked to the nearby town and played simple but effective games there. Thanks to this warm beginning, the barriers between us disappeared from the very first day.

The Heart of the Project: Workshops, Sharing, and Awareness

The following days of the project were shaped around the themes of rest, balance, and movement. Our trainer, Eve Aasa, who is both a youth worker and a certified Kundalini yoga instructor, organized optional morning yoga sessions for those who wanted to join. In the workshops, we explored the topic of burnout in depth. It was comforting to realize that we were not struggling with these feelings alone, and that burnout was, in fact, a universal experience. Whenever our energy dropped, the fun “energizer” games that suddenly appeared became some of the most joyful moments of the project, instantly refreshing and refocusing us.

One of the most memorable activities was when we closed our eyes and imagined a tree. In that visualization, the roots represented what we already had, while the branches symbolized our dreams. By interpreting the size, color, and balance between the roots and branches, we gained deep awareness about ourselves.

Coffee breaks turned into small cultural festivals. Each country shared the snacks they had brought. We represented Türkiye with yaprak sarması, pişmaniye, lokum, and of course, Turkish coffee which were all very well received. In the evenings, after the official program ended, we gathered together to play card games, chat, and even dance, ending each day with warmth and laughter.

A Meaningful Farewell and a Porto Memory

One of the most touching moments of the project was the final day. Everyone wrote letters to each other, expressing the impressions and good wishes they had after that one special week. These letters became tangible memories the most beautiful souvenirs we took home from the project.

Our adventure did not end there. Before flying back to our countries, we spent the remaining time visiting the magical city of Porto. It was wonderful to experience this beautiful city before returning home. In the end, EmpowerED not only provided us with professional tools, but also became a week of renewal — where we connected with nature, bonded with amazing people from different cultures, and listened to ourselves deeply.