The SERENE project aims to help young people and teenagers to respond to the growing need for mental health awareness, emotional resilience, and the development of social skills. Giving young people the tools they need to better understand their emotional needs, promote mental health, and develop critical social skills necessary for both their personal and professional development are the main goals of this program. Seen through the lens of practical youth work, this project aims to empower young people by equipping them with useful skills that will not only improve their mental health and emotional resilience, but also their ability to create meaningful connections with others, communicating clearly to successfully meet the challenges of modern life. There are many compelling reasons that the SERENE project is important to implement as it is rooted in addressing the urgent mental health challenges facing today's youth for various reasons (pressures of everyday life, influence of mass media), the need to develop social skills and the importance of building emotional resilience. These are the main reasons that describe why the project is necessary and effective: 1. Growing concerns about mental health among young people According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a key component of overall well-being, especially for young people who are more vulnerable to mental health issues. Emotional resilience, in particular, has been identified as a protective factor against mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. WHO emphasizes the importance of building emotional resilience through supportive environments and education, which aligns with the goals of SERENE. Mental health problems among young people are on the rise worldwide, with rising rates of anxiety, depression and stress. As teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable and many do not have access to resources or support systems to help them cope with these challenges. For this reason, the SERENE project seeks to directly address this issue by promoting emotional well-being and mental health awareness. Through activities such as mindfulness and yoga, the project will offer practical tools for stress management, emotional regulation and self-awareness, which are critical to improving mental health outcomes. 2. The Need for Emotional Resilience in Today’s Society Emotional resilience is more important than ever in today's complex and fast-paced world. The ability to overcome obstacles by building emotional resilience and coping with the demands of modern life is an essential skill for young people. The goal of the SERENE project is to help participants become emotionally resilient so that they gain the necessary inner strength to face challenges in social, professional and personal contexts. The project seeks to prepare youth for future challenges by building resilience, which will ultimately lead to the development of more balanced and mentally healthy individuals. 3. Deficiencies in Social Skills Development According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) which describes that social and emotional learning (SEL) is very important because it equips young people with key skills such as empathy, emotional regulation and communication. These skills contribute to personal success and emotional resilience, but also to the ability to navigate the social challenges that everyday life demands. CASEL supports the integration of SEL into youth programs to enhance social competence, which resonates with the SERENE project's goal of developing these skills in young participants. A significant part of the project focuses on developing young people's social skills, including empathy, emotional intelligence and effective communication. 4. The significance of informal education In order to empower young people, the European Youth Forum advocates non-formal learning, citing its ability to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership qualities in an engaging and interactive manner. According to this viewpoint, the NFL approaches employed at SERENE, such as yoga and creative expression, provide participants with an inventive way to learn and develop outside of conventional educational settings. 5. Long-term effects on communities and participants The SERENE project seeks to instill in young participants a long-term perspective that recognizes the value of preserving their mental health and helping others in their communities, in addition to the short-term advantages.