Stories that Heal

If you work with young people and are looking for ways to:
✔️ open meaningful conversations about mental health,
✔️ better understand the challenges faced by young people with fewer opportunities, and
✔️ bring innovative methods into your youth work —

👉 this is for you.

Download our Stories That Heal notebook and explore practical tools to support young people on their path to well-being. 💛
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQ_apWwNwZS5T-jzstgKje4C8cETpJyx7GUgYAEHYp8njH2A/viewform

On Tuesday, 4 December 2025, MCDD and Zavod VOZIM hosted the final event of the Stories That Heal project in Slovenske Konjice. 💙

The event brought together youth workers, mental-health ambassadors and partner organisations to share experiences, personal stories and good practices that support young people’s mental well-being.

Participants explored the power of storytelling, joined a workshop on psychological resilience led by Sanja Zalar Gostimirović, and strengthened connections within the youth sector.

✨ Stories That Heal empowers youth workers and organisations with gamified tools and real-life stories to better support young people — especially those with fewer opportunities and young people with disabilities.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 took place in Arad, Romania, on October 15, 2025, and brought together 40 participants, representing a diverse range of backgrounds and professional experiences. The audience included representatives from social work institutions, university students specializing in social work and psychology, as well as professionals from the health sector.

The main objective of the event was to present the project “Stories That Heal” and to share its results, methodology, and impact with relevant stakeholders and community members. Participants were introduced to the concept of using storytelling as a tool for healing, empowerment, and social inclusion, especially for vulnerable groups.

During the event, the project team presented the materials developed throughout the project, including educational resources, good practice examples, and training modules.

Overall, the Multiplier Event in Arad successfully contributed to disseminating the results of “Stories That Heal” and raising awareness about the importance of storytelling as an innovative approach in social and health care practice. 🤗 Asociația Nevăzătorilor Arad

💚 World Mental Health Day 💚

October 10th reminds us every year that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health.
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Mental health is not a destination we reach – it’s a journey we walk every day. There are moments when we can do more, and days when we can barely stand. And that’s okay. 🤍
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🕊️ It’s important to allow ourselves to feel, to ask for help, and to stand by each other.
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Let today be a reminder that you are not alone and that your stories can heal – you and others. 💬💚

https://www.youtube.com/

In the summer Ofensiva Tinerilor went to the Astra Vocational School together with the Arad Blind Association, where they carried out a special activity within the project.

The participants discovered, what the daily life of people with visual impairments looks like, but also the challenges they face. They discussed empathy, acceptance and inclusion – essential values ​​in a healthy society.

The interactive part was the bocce game, adapted to simulate different visual impairments. With the help of special glasses, the young people entered, for a few moments, the skin of a blind person. It was a challenging, educational and memorable experience. 💛🤝

In the summer Ofensiva Tinerilor went to the Astra Vocational School together with the Arad Blind Association, where they carried out a special activity within the project.

The participants discovered, what the daily life of people with visual impairments looks like, but also the challenges they face. They discussed empathy, acceptance and inclusion – essential values ​​in a healthy society.

The interactive part was the bocce game, adapted to simulate different visual impairments. With the help of special glasses, the young people entered, for a few moments, the skin of a blind person. It was a challenging, educational and memorable experience. 💛🤝

If you work with young people and look for ways to:
✔️ open up a conversation about mental health,
✔️ better understand the challenges of young people with fewer opportunities and
✔️ integrate innovative methods into your work;
👉 here is something for you.

Download our notebook (Link in BIO) to help you guide healthy young people. 💛

🌍 Over the past 4 days, the partners of the project Stories that Heal: Personal Accounts and the Power of Mental Well-being gathered in Arad, Romania, for the final evaluation meeting.

👉 During two intensive working days, we reviewed the project results, defined the last steps, and exchanged ideas on how the outcomes (gamified materials, toolkits, and personal stories of mental health ambassadors) will continue to live on in the youth sector beyond the project’s end.

👥 A special part of the meeting was the visit to Asociația Nevăzătorilor Arad, where we learned more about their inspiring work with blind and visually impaired people.

Of course, we also took the time to explore the beautiful city of Arad, which enriched our experience. 🏛️✨

🙏 A big thank you to our hosts Ofensiva Tinerilor, Asociatia for the warm welcome and excellent cooperation!