ATM Project: Art, Theatre and Music for Mental Health – Youth Exchange in Batman, Türkiye
Between 13–18 October 2025, the city of Batman, Türkiye, hosted an inspiring international youth exchange titled “ATM: Art, Theatre and Music for Mental Health.” The project was coordinated by the Sürdürülebilir Eğitim ve Sağlık Akademisi Derneği (Sustainable Education and Health Academy – SEHA), bringing together young participants and youth workers from Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands. Partner organizations included Junta da Freguesia de Ermesinde (Portugal), Asociación de Vecinos El Torcal (Spain), and Toekomstmakers (the Netherlands).
Between 13–18 October 2025, the city of Batman, Türkiye, hosted an inspiring international youth exchange titled “ATM: Art, Theatre and Music for Mental Health.” The project was coordinated by the Sürdürülebilir Eğitim ve Sağlık Akademisi Derneği (Sustainable Education and Health Academy – SEHA), bringing together young participants and youth workers from Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands. Partner organizations included Junta da Freguesia de Ermesinde (Portugal), Asociación de Vecinos El Torcal (Spain), and Toekomstmakers (the Netherlands).
The project focused on empowering young people to use art, theatre, and music as powerful tools to raise awareness about mental health and enhance emotional well-being. Through creative expression, participants explored ways to communicate their feelings, build resilience, and strengthen their social connections.
During the week-long exchange, participants took part in interactive workshops, theatre performances, music sessions, and art-based activities designed to encourage self-expression and open dialogue about mental health. Peer-led discussions and reflection sessions helped participants share their experiences and support one another.
In total, 25 young people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds joined the exchange, creating a vibrant space of learning, empathy, and creativity. Each partner organization sent six participants, while SEHA also provided an experienced facilitator to guide the sessions and ensure an inclusive atmosphere.
The project’s main objectives were to:
Promote mental health awareness among young people.
Strengthen creative and emotional expression through the arts.
Encourage intercultural understanding and social inclusion.
Support personal growth, leadership, and community engagement through non-formal learning.
By the end of the exchange, participants not only improved their artistic skills but also developed a deeper understanding of mental health and the importance of open communication. They presented their work in a local dissemination event, where they showcased performances and artworks to the community, inspiring others to speak openly about emotional well-being.
The impact of the ATM Project extends beyond the mobility itself. The partners aim to continue sharing the outcomes through digital materials, community workshops, and awareness campaigns, ensuring that the project’s message—mental health matters and creativity heals—reaches wider audiences.
This initiative highlights how creative arts can be a bridge between cultures and a path toward emotional resilience, showing that when young people express themselves freely, communities become stronger, more connected, and more compassionate.
