Four-day regional training • Blagaj near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina • 6–9 July 2026
Can laughter become a pathway to trust, emotional awareness and resilience? This question was at the heart of a four-day regional training organised in Blagaj near Mostar under the Erasmus+ project “Joyful Minds – Humor-Based Program for Enhancing Adolescent Psychological Resilience.” From 6 to 9 July 2026, educators, youth workers and project partners explored how humor can be used thoughtfully, not simply to entertain, but to help adolescents connect, reflect and cope.
The training brought together the Joyful Minds consortium: Genesis Project from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Forum for Freedom in Education from Croatia, Youth Can from North Macedonia, and Nisma për Ndryshim Shoqëror ARSIS from Albania. Working across different national and professional contexts, the partners focused on a common challenge: how to make support for adolescent mental health more approachable while preserving strong ethical and safeguarding standards.
The programme was designed as a practical learning journey. Participants first developed a shared understanding of the Joyful Minds methodology and curriculum logic, then experienced and debriefed the core workshops themselves. Daily reflection created space to question, adapt and strengthen the activities before their use with adolescents aged 12–18.
— Joyful Minds training safeguarding principle
Across the programme, humor became a lens for exploring several dimensions of resilience. In “Building Trust Through Shared Laughter,” the group examined how carefully facilitated laughter can strengthen connection and psychological safety. “Humor in Emotional Awareness” focused on recognising emotions and reframing experiences without dismissing difficult feelings. “New Perspectives on Failure” invited participants to consider mistakes as opportunities for reflection and growth, while “That’s How It Is” explored perspective-taking, acceptance and cognitive flexibility.
The “Digital Resilience – Memology Class” brought the conversation into the online spaces where adolescents communicate every day. By looking at memes, online humor, coping and boundaries, the session connected the curriculum to young people’s lived digital realities and encouraged educators to engage with those realities critically and respectfully.
A central message throughout the training was that humor is never neutral. It can create belonging, but it can also reinforce exclusion if used carelessly. For that reason, the Joyful Minds approach places safeguarding at the centre of every activity. Examples should be age-appropriate and culturally adapted, with attention to identity, trauma, neurodiversity and the realities of young people in rural or remote communities.
The methodology also protects adolescents’ agency. Each exercise should include clear instructions, an option not to participate, a structured debrief and an explicit link to the intended resilience outcome. In practice, this means asking not only whether an activity is engaging, but also whether it is safe, inclusive and meaningful for every young person in the room.
An editorial summary of the Joyful Minds approach
The final day shifted the focus from learning to implementation. Partners worked on country-level timelines, recruitment channels, mentoring and supervision, documentation, and the feedback process that will inform the next version of the curriculum. The training evaluation framework was designed to assess knowledge, facilitation confidence, safeguarding readiness and preparedness to deliver the workshops in local contexts.
For Nisma ARSIS, participation in this regional process reinforces a long-standing commitment to child protection, psychosocial wellbeing and youth-centred services. It also creates an opportunity to adapt the methodology thoughtfully to the Albanian context, ensuring that language, culture, inclusion and safeguarding remain integral to implementation.
The Blagaj training marked an important bridge between curriculum development and real-world practice. The project’s ambition extends beyond one training event: through the educators and youth workers prepared by the consortium, Joyful Minds aims to strengthen the resilience of more than 1,000 adolescents across the participating countries.
As the consortium moves toward local delivery, the ideas tested in Mostar will continue to evolve through practice, mentoring and participant feedback. The goal is not to use laughter to avoid difficult conversations, but to help young people enter those conversations with greater trust, flexibility and hope.
Joyful Minds is implemented by a consortium led by Genesis Project, in partnership with Forum for Freedom in Education, Youth Can, and Nisma për Ndryshim Shoqëror ARSIS, with the support of the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.
Project reference: 101243616 – ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB
Nisma për Ndryshim Shoqëror ARSIS, known as Nisma ARSIS, formally established itself as a non-profit organisation in February 2016. It emerged from the roots of ARSIS – Social Organization for the Support of the Youth, inaugurated in Tirana in January 2006 as an offshoot of ARSIS Greece. Ever since Nisma ARSIS has transformed itself into an influential non-governmental actor in the civil society sector in Albania and beyond.
Nisma ARSIS remains faithful to its broadly declared mission, vision, and core program priorities. As a result, in the past eight years, the organisation has stayed focused on the following programmatic priorities:
“To create a society where the rights of every child and individual are respected, and vulnerable groups are empowered to lead fulfilling lives.”
“At Nisma ARSIS, we are committed to advancing the rights of children, youth and their caregivers facing vulnerability, providing comprehensive services, and facilitating their dignified integration into society.”
Community – For Nisma ARSIS, the community is a shared sense of belonging, collaboration, and interconnectedness among individuals united by shared values, goals, and interests. It involves fostering relationships, promoting inclusivity, and actively engaging with diverse members.
Diversity – Nisma ARSIS recognizes that working with children, youth, and their caregivers, regardless of their background, lies at the core of its strength. To fulfill its mission, Nisma ARSIS respects the diversity of the people it supports. It is committed to equal opportunity for all and respect for difference.
Teamwork – Nisma ARSIS believes in the collaborative effort of individuals working together towards a common goal. This involves the sharing of ideas, skills, and resources, as well as mutual support and encouragement.
Professionalism – Nisma ARSIS encompasses the adherence to the highest ethical standards, competence, and respectful behavior in all interactions. It involves a commitment to quality, responsibility, and continuous improvement.
Integrity – Consistent adherence to moral and ethical principles that involve honesty, transparency, and a commitment to doing what is right, even in challenging situations, is paramount. For Nisma ARSIS, integrity is fundamental in building credibility with donors, partners, and the community served. It ensures that the organization operates ethically and with the utmost trustworthiness.
If you note any form of abuse to children during an activity or work supported by Nisma për Ndryshim Shoqëror ARSIS, please report immediately at: initiative.arsis@gmail.com