🇲🇰 Erasmus+ Training Course in North Macedonia 💃 Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Inclusion Through Dance and Movement 🕺

What if dance could become a tool for wellbeing, inclusion, and confidence in youth work? "Healthy Moves, Erasmus Grooves" is an Erasmus+ Training Course on the shores of Lake Ohrid, bringing youth workers together to explore how movement and dance can tackle sedentary lifestyles, low self-esteem, bullying, and social isolation, empowering young people to feel stronger in body and mind.

About the Project

"Healthy Moves, Erasmus Grooves" promotes healthy lifestyles, inclusion, and personal development through dance and movement. It responds to challenges such as sedentary lifestyles, obesity, low self-esteem, bullying, and social isolation among young people.

By combining non-formal education, creative expression, and intercultural learning, the project empowers youth workers with innovative tools to support young people's physical and mental wellbeing. Through dance as a universal language, participants explore ways to build self-confidence, foster inclusion, challenge stereotypes, and create stronger, more connected communities.

Main Objectives

💃 Promote healthy lifestyles through dance, movement, and physical activity

🛠️ Strengthen youth workers' skills in using creative and movement-based methods

🚫 Combat bullying, stigma, and discrimination related to body image and weight

💪 Foster self-confidence, self-expression, and emotional wellbeing among young people

🤝 Promote the inclusion and active participation of young people with fewer opportunities

🌍 Encourage intercultural dialogue, cooperation, and European values

📦 Develop practical tools and resources for everyday youth work

Who Is This Project For?

🎨 Youth workers interested in innovative and creative methods

❤️ Youth workers working with wellbeing and inclusion topics

🌱 Participants with fewer opportunities facing economic, social, educational, or geographical barriers

🙌 Professionals who want to use dance and movement as tools for learning, inclusion, and personal development

The training brings together 23 youth workers (aged 18+) from 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇹🇷 Türkiye, 🇪🇸 Spain, and 🇲🇹 Malta, with at least one participant with fewer opportunities from each country.

About Ohrid

🏛️ Ohrid sits on the northeastern coast of Lake Ohrid in southwestern North Macedonia, one of the country's main tourist destinations. Known for its many churches and monasteries, it is often called the Balkan and European Jerusalem, and is also known as the "City of Light." The Ohrid region is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Accommodation

🏨 Participants stay at Hotel Montenegrin Inn in the centre of Ohrid, with a view of the Samoil Fortress and Old City, in 2-, 3-, or 4-bed rooms shared by the same gender and mixed nationalities to encourage intercultural exchange

❄️ All rooms are air-conditioned with cable TV and a private bathroom, and the large working room has internet, a projector, and a coffee corner

Food and Intercultural Nights

🍽️ Three meals a day and two coffee breaks are provided, featuring typical Macedonian cuisine; inform the organisers of any allergies or dietary requirements in the application form

🎉 Each country presents its culture, dances, traditions, and food during the intercultural nights, so bring some typical snacks or drinks (note that cooking during the intercultural night is not possible)

🚭 The project is alcohol- and drug-free

Travel and Reimbursement

🚆 Green travel is strongly encouraged; for participants from North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Romania, only green travel (bus, train, or carpooling) is supported, while participants from Malta, Czechia, Türkiye, and Spain should choose affordable, sustainable options such as economy flights

💶 Travel costs are reimbursed up to a maximum per person, for both ways, according to the Erasmus+ Distance Calculator: Bulgaria €285 (green), Romania €285 (green), Czechia €309, Malta €309, Türkiye €309, Spain €395 (North Macedonia has organised transport)

📄 Reimbursement is made after the programme, only if participants attend the whole project and complete all agreed activities including follow-up and dissemination, and provide all original tickets, boarding passes, and invoices

💚 Board and accommodation are 100% covered by the hosting organisation through Erasmus+ co-funding. Please note the project does not cover health or travel insurance, which participants arrange themselves, and do not book tickets before your travel plan is confirmed by your sending organisation.

Important Dates

🛬 Arrival: 8 September 2026

🛫 Departure: 16 September 2026

Participants must arrive on 8 September and not leave before 16 September; you may arrive up to 2 days earlier or leave up to 2 days later, but those extra costs are your own.

Want to understand how Erasmus+ works and what it covers before you apply? Read this first: https://youthworkshub.org/15096/

How to Apply

Read all the information carefully, then complete the online application form, noting any allergies or dietary requirements. Selection will be made by 10 July 2026, and selected participants should book tickets by 15 July 2026.