MindLand

MindLand was an Erasmus+ project that aimed to help young people, including refugees, practice mindfulness and develop self-awareness through a gamified mobile app. The project was conducted simultaneously in Cyprus, Belgium, and Portugal, starting in the spring of 2022.

A survey conducted as part of the MindLand project revealed that around 70% of young people had heard about mindfulness, but only 37% had actually practiced it. Recognizing the benefits of mindfulness in reducing stress and enhancing creativity, the project partners aimed to make mindfulness training more accessible, especially considering that it is not typically provided in public education across most European countries.

The project brought together various associations, including T.R.I Technologos Research and Innovation Services Ltd from Larnaka, Cyprus, Mindfulness for Life Ltd from Nicosia, Cyprus, Welcome Home International from Brussels, Belgium, and My Madeira Island in Portugal. These organizations combined their expertise in mindfulness, refugee support, and youth engagement to develop the gamified app.

The target audience for the app was young people aged 13-30, including refugees. Since young people often spend a significant amount of time on their mobile phones, the project team decided to deliver mindfulness and self-awareness training through a game app. By completing missions and exercises within the app, young people could become more aware of their beliefs, automatic behaviors, and emotions. The app aimed to improve self-esteem, decision-making, and emotional management skills.

Based on the survey conducted by the project partners, young people expressed a keen interest in mindfulness and wanted to explore topics such as empathy and compassion, self-identity, attachments and commitments, and dealing with uncertainty.

To ensure accessibility, the app was available in English, Greek, Arabic, and Ukrainian languages, catering to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the target audience.

The MindLand project commenced in March 2022 and concluded at the end of the year. It received co-funding from the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Throughout its duration, the project aimed to empower young people, including refugees, by providing them with a user-friendly and engaging platform to practice mindfulness and cultivate self-awareness.