Working Women's Struggle with Stress - Beyond the Pressure: Discovering Healthier Ways to Manage Workplace Stress

The Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project “Working Women's Struggle with Stress” (Project No. 2023-2-TR01-KA153-YOU-000167767) took place in Eskişehir, Türkiye, between 15–21 October 2024. Coordinated by Çalışan Kadınlar Topluluğu, the project brought together youth workers from Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Türkiye. As a partner organisation, Venus Women's Right Association contributed to a week of non-formal learning focused on workplace stress, emotional well-being, gender equality, and empowering youth workers with practical tools to support working women in their communities.

Participants built meaningful connections through interactive introduction activities that encouraged them to present their personal strengths while actively listening to one another. By recalling the qualities shared by fellow participants, they strengthened their observation, communication, and interpersonal skills in an enjoyable and supportive atmosphere. This simple but effective exercise fostered trust, increased group cohesion, and created a positive learning environment where everyone felt recognised and valued.

Well-being and emotional resilience were explored through breathing practices, yoga, and music therapy. Guided by expert trainers, participants discovered the principles of Pranayama, learned how conscious breathing influences emotional regulation, and practiced techniques that can reduce stress and improve concentration. Yoga sessions complemented this learning by introducing mindful movement and relaxation, while music therapy combined breathing, live instrumental performances, rhythmic movement, and sound exercises to help participants express emotions, release tension, and improve self-awareness. These practical experiences demonstrated how holistic approaches can become valuable tools for supporting mental health in everyday life.

The programme also encouraged participants to reflect on the realities faced by working women through discussions on workplace mobbing and emotional expression. Expert-led group guidance sessions examined the causes and consequences of psychological harassment in professional environments, highlighting its impact on confidence, communication, and emotional well-being. Through dialogue, empathy exercises, and self-reflection activities, participants strengthened their critical thinking skills while exploring strategies to promote healthier and more inclusive workplaces. Creative sessions introducing Erasmus+ through role-playing, slogan design, and collaborative presentations further demonstrated how non-formal education can inspire participation, teamwork, and intercultural learning.

The learning experience concluded with opportunities for personal reflection, intercultural exchange, and collaborative evaluation. Participants completed empathy-based self-expression exercises, explored Romanian culture through presentations, traditional food, music, and dance, and shared their feedback using visual evaluation methods based on symbols, emojis, and group discussions. These activities reinforced intercultural understanding, active participation, and peer learning while encouraging participants to transform their new knowledge into practical initiatives that support women's well-being, resilience, and equal opportunities in their local communities.