Mindful Bites, Healthy Lives is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Lower Saxony, Germany, from 26 November to 4 December 2026. It brings together young people aged 18-25 (a few places up to 30 if justified) from Germany, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Poland, Serbia and Spain to explore food, emotions, body image and mental well-being. Accommodation and meals are 100% covered by Erasmus+ and travel is reimbursed up to your country's limit. There is no fixed deadline, so apply as soon as possible. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full infopack and the call, and this guide brings every detail together.
What Is Mindful Bites, Healthy Lives?
Mindful Bites, Healthy Lives is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange that empowers young people to build a healthier and more mindful relationship with food, their bodies and everyday life. If this format is new to you, our guide explains what an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange is and how it works.
Through non-formal and intercultural activities, participants explore:
🍎 Food literacy
🫶 Mindful eating
💭 Emotional eating
🪞 Body image
💪 Self-esteem
📱 Social-media pressure
♻️ Sustainability
🧠 Mental well-being
Through mindfulness practices, intercultural cooking, peer learning and creative workshops, participants develop practical wellbeing strategies and personal action plans while gaining the confidence to become wellbeing multipliers in their own communities.
Project Objectives
🥦 Promote healthy, balanced and mindful eating among young people
💚 Strengthen mental well-being, self-esteem and positive body image
📣 Raise awareness of emotional eating and social-media pressure
🌾 Develop food literacy and sustainable eating habits
🛡️ Provide a safe space for intercultural learning and mutual support
🧰 Equip young people with practical mindfulness and wellbeing tools
🌱 Empower participants to become wellbeing multipliers in their communities
🇪🇺 Promote active youth participation and Erasmus+ opportunities
Looking after yourself abroad is part of the topic, and our guide on mental health and wellbeing on an Erasmus+ or ESC project explains the support that exists during a project.
Who Can Apply? The Participant Profile
The selection of participants is done by the sending organisations, based on the information provided by applicants. Each organisation is responsible for finding and preparing the participants who best match the criteria:
🎂 Young people aged 18 to 25, with the possibility to include a few up to 30 if justified
🤝 Motivated to work in groups and in an intercultural environment, valuing cooperation, mutual learning and the exchange of diverse perspectives
🏡 Coming from rural areas, disadvantaged backgrounds, or facing social and economic barriers that limit access to international opportunities
🍽️ Interested in understanding the relationship between food, emotions, stress, body image and self-esteem
🔍 May lack the tools or safe environments to explore these topics in their daily lives
🗣️ Will have the opportunity to take part in an intercultural setting where their voice is valued
Group Leader Profile
Each country also sends one group leader. Group leaders should be 18+, with no upper age limit, and be able to:
🧭 Support participants throughout the project and organise and implement preparatory meetings
📞 Communicate and cooperate with other group leaders during the programme preparation and help organise the practicalities of the youth exchange
🙋 Support participants during the exchange, especially in their learning process and active participation
📋 Organise and implement evaluation meetings after the exchange and support the group in follow-up activities
Group Size: 7 per Country
👥 Per country: 7 people (6 participants + 1 group leader)
🌍 Countries: Germany, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Poland, Serbia and Spain
Working Methods
🛠️ Learning by doing and experiential learning
🧊 Ice-breakers and team-building games to get to know each other
💬 Workshops that leave room for guided but controversial discussions
🎲 Simulation games that identify current challenges of non-formal education and show possible measures that strengthen them
These sessions give participants concrete ideas that can be implemented in their local communities, ensuring an important multiplier effect.
Host and Partner Organisations
The exchange is coordinated by Dasein e.V. in Germany, together with partners from each participating country:
🇩🇪 Dasein e.V. (Germany)
🇹🇷 Bosphorus Education Culture and Development Association (Türkiye)
🇲🇰 Youth Council Next Generation Skopje (North Macedonia)
🇷🇸 Udruzenje mladih "Logos" (Serbia)
🇵🇱 ARCHATA (Poland)
🇪🇸 Asociación Pilcrow (Spain)
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🌍 All opportunities in Germany →
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Venue: KulturHaus in Osterholz-Scharmbeck
The youth exchange takes place at KulturHaus, which the organisers describe as a perfect place for NGOs, schools and other groups looking for a comfortable and spacious place to host projects.
📶 Stable internet connection
🎬 The house is set up for workshops, educational seminars, cooking classes, movie nights, playroom activities, outdoor walks and many more activities
Osterholz-Scharmbeck is a town and the capital of the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany, situated between the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.
Accommodation
🛏️ Accommodation costs are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ Programme
📅 Costs are covered only from the arrival day (26 November 2026) until the departure day (4 December 2026)
🚪 Shared rooms with 4-6 people per bedroom
🚻 Participants are accommodated with participants of the same gender and from different countries, to strengthen the intercultural dimension and good team spirit
🧳 You can arrive or depart up to 2 days before or after the project dates
🚫 In case of a longer stay or indirect travel (holiday travel, etc.), there is no chance of reimbursement of travel costs
Important: travelling sometimes requires an additional day to catch a flight and an extra night near the airport. The organisers cannot cover food and accommodation costs for such nights; this is the participant's responsibility. For that reason, they recommend hostels (Hostelworld) or staying with friends (Couchsurfing).
Food and Kitchen Duties
🍳 Three meals per day and two coffee breaks are provided during the activity
📝 Inform the organisers in the application form about any food allergies and diets (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies)
👩🍳 Participants help the chef prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner
🧽 All participants share the responsibility to help in the kitchen, prepare food and coffee breaks, wash the dishes and keep the kitchen clean
🙅 Alcohol is not allowed in the venue and accommodation
The organisers stress that the kitchen work is part of the project application and was intended to be this way. Our guide on what Erasmus+ pays for in a youth project explains how food, accommodation and travel are funded.
How to Reach the Venue
✈️ By plane: Bremen Airport is the most comfortable airport to arrive at, and flying is the easiest way to come to Germany
💺 Cheaper flights: the infopack suggests checking Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet
🚆 From Bremen Airport to Osterholz-Scharmbeck, travel by public transport
🆘 Help: for any issue with your travel plan, your sending organisation will assist you
Arrival and Departure Rules
🕒 Arrive at the venue between 15:00 and 20:00 on the arrival day (26 November)
⛔ You cannot leave the project one day early to catch your flight or bus
🎟️ Buy your tickets according to the project dates
🚌 Only public transport is subject to reimbursement
🛫 If you travel by airplane, economy class only
🚕 Taxi is not covered
Travel Budget per Country
The cost given is a limit in total per person, for the round trip:
🇩🇪 Germany (Dasein e.V.): €285 (green travel)
🇹🇷 Türkiye (Bosphorus Education Culture and Development Association): €395
🇲🇰 North Macedonia (Youth Council Next Generation Skopje): €309
The infopack does not list amounts for Serbia, Poland and Spain. Our guides on how Erasmus+ travel reimbursement works and green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explain how these limits are set.
How Travel Reimbursement Works
💶 According to Erasmus+ rules, travel money is reimbursed according to the real cost you spent, up to the budget per participant: if you spend less, you get back what you actually spent; if you spend more, you get only up to the limit
⚖️ Everything above the limit is your own cost, so remember your limit before buying
✅ Confirm your travel arrangements with your sending organisation before booking the flight
🧾 Save all travel documents: original physical tickets, boarding passes, invoices, booking confirmations or bills with the ticket price. Documentation is obligatory for reimbursement
🎫 Buy all tickets for both directions before the mobility (plane, train, bus), because only real expenses are reimbursed
📏 Travel expenses are compensated (up to 100%) based on actual costs and the distance from your place of residence to the project, calculated with the European Commission's distance calculator
🏦 Money is sent only to the sending organisation (1 person from the team), who then sends it to the participants
❌ Missing tickets cannot be reimbursed
🏢 Tickets bought through a travel agency are not reimbursed: buy from the airline website
🧳 Economy class only, maximum 10 kg luggage; seats and extra services are not reimbursable
🔁 Participants must travel from the country of the sending organisation, and back
🗓️ Travel must be done directly to the country of residence within a maximum of 2 travel days
🔎 Any inconsistency or manipulation in your booking or documents means no travel reimbursement
Important Notice on Travel Documents
All travel documents submitted for reimbursement must be genuine, accurate and related to the actual journey. Submitting fake, altered, manipulated, duplicated or misleading tickets, invoices, boarding passes or payment confirmations is strictly prohibited. If irregularities are found, the related travel costs are not reimbursed, and serious cases may be communicated to the sending organisation and/or the relevant National Agency. The organisers reserve the right to verify travel documents with airlines, transport companies, booking platforms or other providers.
Health Insurance
🩺 Before arriving in Germany, make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (for EU citizens) or private insurance (for non-EU citizens)
🏥 Notify the organisers of any health risk or necessary medicines
🥜 Let them know about special food arrangements (vegetarian, vegan, intolerances)
What to Bring
🛂 Passport or ID
👕 Comfortable clothes for the activities
🧥 Warm clothes (check the weather forecast)
🧴 Towels and personal care products: shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, hairdryer
🩴 Flip-flops or slippers
📷 Camera and laptop (2 per country)
🩹 Pills and medicines
😊 Positive attitude
How to Prepare Before the Exchange
🎉 Intercultural evening: each group creates an interesting, interactive and creative intercultural evening to promote its country and culture: show what you eat, drink, your traditions, music, culture, stereotypes and more
🎮 Find interesting videos, games, exercises or educational activities related to the topic
⚡ Morning and afternoon energizers: each group prepares energizers to increase the group energy
💻 Digital equipment: wherever possible, take 2 laptops per country and digital cameras, as photos and videos will be taken with them more than with phones, and some multimedia work requires digital equipment
Basic Rules of the Project
🙌 All participants are expected to be present and active in all activities, unless ill or for other justified reasons
🚷 Unauthorised absence from activities and workshops won't be tolerated
⏰ Participants' responsibility: care for the schedule, be kind, respect others, be positive, get out of your comfort zone, have fun and try to be part of the solution
✍️ All participants sign a "Rules and regulations" document on arrival
🎈 Bring your best mood and prepare for fun, creativity and new connections
Youthpass Certificate
Every participant receives a Youthpass certificate, which validates the non-formal learning outcomes and key competences gained during the exchange. Our guide on what Youthpass is explains how it works.
How to Apply
Apply through the online application form and read the infopack before applying. In the form, declare any allergies and dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, intolerances). Participant selection is carried out by the sending organisations based on the information you provide.
Find more projects like this in our Erasmus+ listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when does Mindful Bites, Healthy Lives take place?
The exchange takes place at KulturHaus in Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Lower Saxony, Germany, between Bremen and Bremerhaven, from 26 November to 4 December 2026. You should arrive at the venue between 15:00 and 20:00 on 26 November.
Who can apply?
Young people aged 18-25 from Germany, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Poland, Serbia and Spain can apply, with a few places up to 30 if justified. Priority goes to young people from rural areas, disadvantaged backgrounds or facing social and economic barriers.
Is there an age limit for group leaders?
Group leaders must be 18 or older, with no upper age limit. They support participants before, during and after the exchange, including preparatory and evaluation meetings.
How many people come from each country?
Each country sends 7 people: 6 participants and 1 group leader.
Is the exchange free?
Accommodation, three meals a day and two coffee breaks are covered 100% by Erasmus+, and travel is reimbursed based on real costs up to your country's limit. Anything above the limit is your own cost.
How much travel reimbursement will I receive?
The infopack lists €285 (green travel) for Germany, €395 for Türkiye and €309 for North Macedonia, as a total round-trip limit per person. Amounts for Serbia, Poland and Spain are not listed in the infopack.
Can I arrive early or stay longer?
You can arrive or depart up to 2 days before or after the project dates, but food and accommodation outside the project period are not covered, and longer stays or indirect travel are not reimbursed.
Is taxi travel reimbursed?
No. Only public transport is reimbursed, flights must be economy class, and taxi costs are not covered. Tickets bought through a travel agency are also not reimbursed.
Will I have to cook?
Yes. Participants help the chef prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner, prepare coffee breaks, wash dishes and keep the kitchen clean. This is part of the project design.
Is alcohol allowed?
No. Alcohol is not allowed in the venue or the accommodation.
What insurance do I need?
EU citizens need a valid European Health Insurance Card, and non-EU citizens need private insurance. You should also tell the organisers about any health risks or medicines you need.
What should I prepare before arriving?
Each national group prepares an intercultural evening, energizers and, if possible, videos, games or activities related to the topic. Bring 2 laptops per country and digital cameras for the multimedia work.
When is the application deadline?
There is no fixed deadline, so you should apply as soon as possible.
Project Snapshot
📌 Type: Youth Exchange
📍 Location: KulturHaus, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Lower Saxony, Germany
🗓️ Activity Dates: 26 November-4 December 2026 (arrival 26 November between 15:00 and 20:00, departure 4 December)
🌍 Countries: Germany, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Poland, Serbia, Spain
🎂 Age: 18-25 (a few places up to 30 if justified; group leaders 18+ with no upper age limit)
Deadline
⏳ As soon as possible!
Links
📝 Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUkWOlzdvwPpHMBbpUVMKKW-Yyv0jkf5_yWm2NWjRjpKuCIg/viewform
📄 Infopack: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHR_WrPO2c/6uuQEZJbRLHu1jFXEGeOCA/view
🏠 Venue (KulturHaus): https://kulturgruppenhaus.de/en/kultur-haus/
✈️ Bremen Airport: https://www.bremen-airport.com/en/
