IkigART: Healthy Reasons Why

From the 26th of September to the 5th of October, our Ethos MTÜ team travelled to the peaceful mountain village of Platres in Cyprus to take part in “IkigART: Healthy Reasons Why,” a youth exchange dedicated to exploring Ikigai, the connection between what we love, what we are good at, what the world needs, and what we can be paid for. Surrounded by pine forests, clean air, narrow mountain paths and the quiet atmosphere of Platres, the ten days became a chance to slow down, reconnect with ourselves and others, and immerse fully into a creative non-formal learning process.

The project programme guided us through themes like passion, talent, inner judgment, values, and sustainability, combining artistic tools, theatre, mandalas, nature-based reflection, group discussions and personal rituals. According to the schedule and the detailed activity descriptions, the week was designed to gradually move from self-discovery toward understanding our place in the world, and it truly felt like that unfolding happened naturally day by day.

Our Estonian team, Aimei, Kaisa, Maria, Tristen, Boris and Aleksandra, arrived as six individuals but very quickly found a strong rhythm together. One of the most meaningful parts of the exchange was how much our team contributed to the programme. Everyone led something: morning warm-ups, a yoga session, an introduction to Estonian culture, a forum theatre activity, creative exercises, and even a small workshop about mushrooms. These moments added a personal touch and helped create a sense of shared ownership within the group. It felt as if the project encouraged participants to step forward not only as learners but as facilitators, and our team embraced that fully.

Throughout the week we experienced activities that sometimes pushed us gently outside our comfort zones, composing music together with simple instruments and objects found in nature, walking in pairs while hiking and discussing the obstacles that hold us back, communicating to our inner judge, exchanging symbolic objects during the Swap Party, and reflecting together. Many participants described the environment as “safe,” and this safety allowed the group to open up in a sincere and honest way.

Halfway through the project we had a free day, and almost everyone decided to travel together to Limassol. After a week in the mountains, suddenly being in a lively coastal city felt like a refreshing shift. We walked along the seaside, explored the town, and spent the day at the beach. Meanwhile in Estonia it was already cold and rainy, so swimming in the Mediterranean and getting sunburnt felt both funny and surreal. It was one of those simple shared experiences that brought the group even closer and filled the day with laughter.

Looking back, the experience was not only about the workshops, the schedule or the topic. It was about the people we met, the conversations we had, the "nice view", the "noodles evening", the gossip box and the moments of silence when everyone reflected on their own path. Cyprus gave us space to breathe and to listen, to ourselves and to each other. By the last day, the group felt more like a family than a group of participants, and leaving Platres felt surprisingly emotional. The six of us from Estonia came home with a lot of warmth, new confidence, and clarity, and with a shared feeling that this week will stay with us for a long time.

Most importantly, it doesn’t feel like the end of something but rather the beginning. Our Estonian team has already started planning a reunion, and the connections formed in Cyprus continue daily in our group chats. Ikigai is something each person must define for themselves, but after this experience, we are all carrying a clearer sense of direction, and many memories that remind us why we do what we do.

Text: Aleksandra

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