During the ten days I spent in Germany, in a small village Osterholz-Scharmbeck, near Bremen, I had the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus+ project “Encourage5”. The main idea of this project was inspired by Joseph Campbell’s book “A Hero’s Journey”, which speaks about the hero’s path as a symbol of personal transformation. Our refuge throughout the program was KulturHaus, a place dedicated to creative and educational gatherings, where, surrounded by nature, we had the chance to focus on introspection.
The theme of the project was discovering one’s own inner hero through motifs of Greek mythology. Each day brought new challenges, sometimes physical, sometimes psychological, reminding us that the hero’s path is not just an adventure beyond the comfort zone, but also the ability to return to our daily lives and continue using the superpowers we discovered along the way. Through workshops, conversations, and symbolic activities inspired by mythical figures such as Hercules, Athena, or Odysseus, participants explored their fears, values, and potentials. The essence was not only in “stepping out of the comfort zone”, but in the ability to return to it stronger, braver, and more self-aware.
Every day we held a Hero’s Council, a time when each of the 45 participants could share their opinions, feelings, or reflections. We talked about organization, daily responsibilities, but also about personal insights, which strengths we had discovered within ourselves, which ones we still needed to develop, and how we recognized them in others. Each evening we held a ceremony where we would, with the words “this is the strength I give to you”, attribute to one another qualities we noticed during the day, such as courage, connection, faith, humor, or spirituality. These strengths were not just symbols, but a way to learn how to recognize and appreciate the good sides of ourselves and others. Sometimes we kept one for ourselves as a personal reminder of something we wished to nurture.
For ten days, we lived as one big family. Everyone had their own role and task, but also the freedom to contribute to the group in their own way. During each meal, we sat next to different people, which encouraged us to open up, connect, and overcome habits that usually keep us in familiar and safe surroundings. This experience taught me that the hero’s journey is more than just a plain adventure, it is a process of returning to oneself with new understanding, confidence, and readiness.
A special place in the whole experience belongs to the facilitators and the organizational team. Their approach was incredibly creative, attentive, and full of understanding. Each workshop was carefully designed and led with a genuine desire to encourage us to think, feel, and explore. What left the strongest impression on me was how present and dedicated they were at every step of our adventure, listening to every word we said, considering our suggestions, and immediately implementing changes they found useful. That willingness to listen to participants, adapt, and grow together with the group was, for me, one of the most valuable lessons of the entire project.
The Encourage5 project was more than just a youth exchange. It showed me that the hero’s path, no matter how frightening it may seem, is never lonely. Perhaps no myths or legends will be written about our adventure, but our diaries will surely be filled.
