By implementing the Lotus Project, our main objective was to enhance the emotional well-being, personal development, and social inclusion of young refugees aged 13 to 30. By combining yoga and poetry, we developed a methodology that provides safe spaces for self-expression, resilience, and reconnection with inner strength and creativity. At the same time, we aimed to empower facilitators, artists, youth workers, and educators by equipping them with innovative tools rooted in movement and creative practice. This body–mind approach, less reliant on verbal communication, helps overcome language barriers and supports vulnerable youth who face difficulties expressing their experiences. Beyond individual benefits, the project sought to foster inclusive communities where participants can heal, learn, and act as engaged members of society. Inspired by EU values of dignity, unity, and respect, Lotus invited young refugees not only to imagine but also to actively shape a more positive future for themselves and the communities in which they live.
Statistics from ECRE show a significant increase in the number of young refugees arriving in Greece, France, and Germany in recent years. Many of them have faced traumatic experiences during their journey to Europe. At the local level, associations are actively engaged to face this crisis. The partners of the Lotus project are part of this civil society effort, acting in response to a phenomenon that is expected to continue for years to come. They chose to develop the Lotus project in order to transform their previous knowledge and field experience into an innovative methodology that combines work on the body, the mind, and creativity. By bringing together yoga and poetry, Lotus provides a safe space where young refugees can express themselves, foster resilience, and reconnect with hope. Displaced youth deserve access to empowering tools that enable them to become reflective, adaptable, and engaged citizens. At the same time, local communities need meaningful opportunities to encounter young refugees and discover common ground. Facilitators play a key role in this process. With the Lotus methodology, they are equipped through tools that nurture a growth mindset, inclusion, and mutual understanding.