Our HEART Erasmus+ Experience in Hungary – Learning About Emotional Intelligence

Author: Mila Zoric

From 13 to 22 July 2026, six participants from Serbia had the opportunity to take part in HEART – Healthy Emotional Awareness and Relationship Training, an Erasmus+ project organised by Dear Youth in Szarvas, Hungary. They were part of the delegation that INAT Centre team selected as the partner in this project.

Together with young people from Romania, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Hungary and Norway, these participants spent ten days exploring Emotional Intelligence through workshops, discussions, group activities and intercultural exchange.

Their experience offered an opportunity to learn more about emotional awareness, communication, relationships and different cultural perspectives.

Creating Space for Honest Conversations

One of the most valuable parts of the project was the openness of the discussions.

Through activities focused on emotional awareness, active listening and communication, we explored how we recognise and express emotions and how our communication affects others. We also talked about mental health and how it is understood in different countries.

We learned about personal boundaries, attachment styles and relationship dynamics, including how our experiences can influence the way we connect with others and approach conflict.

Learning Through Practice

The project was strongly based on learning by doing. Young people took part in communication role plays, group activities, reflection exercises and simulations that encouraged them to look at familiar situations from different perspectives.

One activity that particularly stayed with them was the Derdian simulation, where participants had to build a bridge while following completely different communication rules.

The exercise became a lesson in adaptability and understanding, showing that communication is not simply about expressing ourselves clearly. In other words, we also need to understand how others communicate and be willing to adapt.

Understanding Relationships and Culture

We explored how relationships and social norms can differ between cultures through activities on relationship norms, sexual education, intercultural barriers and healthy relationships.

Having young people from six different countries made these conversations especially valuable. We discovered that while our experiences can be very different, many of the challenges we face are surprisingly similar.

Connecting Beyond Workshops

The experience was not only about formal activities. Sharing meals, cultural evenings, outdoor activities and everyday moments helped young participants from Serbia get to know each other outside the workshops.

We also worked together on a short film, combining creativity and teamwork, while intercultural evenings gave us the opportunity to share our cultures and traditions.

These moments became just as important as the workshops, helping us turn a group of international participants into a real community.

What We Are Taking Home

Our biggest takeaway was that Emotional Intelligence is not only about understanding our own emotions. It is also about understanding other people.

We learned the importance of active listening, empathy, clear communication, healthy boundaries and adaptability. We also saw how much can change when we approach differences with curiosity instead of judgment.

For us, HEART was much more than ten days in Hungary. It was an opportunity to challenge our perspectives, build new connections and develop skills we can carry into our everyday lives.

We came to Hungary to learn about Emotional Intelligence. We left with new perspectives, new connections and a little more understanding of ourselves and each other.