Across Europe, youth workers are increasingly confronted with two challenges in their daily work with young people: growing mental health crisis and the environmental crisis. High levels of anxiety, disconnection and emotional burnout are now widespread among young people, especially in conflict-affected and post-pandemic contexts. Iceland, for example, reports the highest consumption of antidepressants in Europe. In Ukraine, 46% of people reported deteriorating mental health in 2024 due to the ongoing war, while in Germany, 29% of the population is in a state of languishing and 18% in distress. At the same time, climate change and environmental degradation are no longer abstract threats but lived realities: Ukraine’s emissions rose by 31% last year due to war-related destruction, while Slovakia ranks only 46th in the global Climate Change Performance Index. This dual crisis has created a new challenge called eco-anxiety. The fear of environmental doom, which particularly affects young people. Studies show that many feel overwhelmed, powerless and hopeless about the future of the planet, leading to emotional paralysis and disengagement. Eco-anxiety is often compounded by war, displacement or economic insecurity, intensifying feelings of instability and lack of safety. These conditions directly affect young people’s sense of purpose and hope, making it essential for youth workers to address emotional resilience and environmental awareness together. That is why the “Healing People - Healing the Planet” project was created. It addresses a gap between ecological and mental situations by creating a space for youth workers to restore their inner balance, reconnect with themselves and strengthen both emotional and ecological resilience. The project brings together youth workers, NGO staff, civic educators, trainers and local change-makers from Iceland, Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia and Bulgaria to explore how emotional well-being and ecological awareness can be nurtured together through creativity, embodiment and non-formal learning. The project uses creative, embodied methodologies, such as music, mindfulness, movement, performance, as tools for both inner healing and collective expression. Participants will experience a retreat-like setting in nature, where they will learn how rhythm, melody and sound affect the nervous system, emotional states and group dynamics. They will gain practical skills to reduce anxiety, regulate emotions and recover inner balance. By linking these practices with ecological awareness, the project responds directly to eco-anxiety: showing that emotional reconnection with oneself can foster a renewed sense of belonging to the world and motivate authentic engagement in sustainable practices. Instead of perceiving sustainability as a burden or obligation, participants will rediscover it as an expression of care, gratitude and interconnection. The experience will culminate in a collective artistic performance, co-created and performed by participants, symbolising the connection between emotional healing and ecological responsibility. This performance will be filmed and shared widely, amplifying a powerful creative message about the urgent need to care for both mental well-being and the planet. The main objectives of the project are: - to provide youth workers with practical knowledge on how different types of music can be used as a tool to regulate emotions, reduce stress and support mental health, both for themselves and in their work with young people; - to improve their emotional well-being and inner balance through immersive experiences with music, movement, mindfulness and nature-based practices; - to foster ecological awareness by helping participants reconnect with nature and understand how emotional well-being can inspire sincere engagement in sustainable practices; - to empower participants to creatively express the link between mental health and environmental care through the co-creation of a public artistic performance, filmed and disseminated as a European-level awareness campaign; - to equip youth workers with new non-formal education methods that integrate creativity, embodiment and sustainability, enhancing the quality and impact of their daily youth work; - to bring new methods of work to the youth sector across Europe; - to contribute to the intercultural dialogue and build new partnerships between the countries. Last but not the least, this project directly meets priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme and aims to contribute to the European non-formal education, lifelong learning and wellbeing.