LESSAN - Independent Youth Welfare Organization

Promoting Mental Health: Nationwide Transcultural Empowerment of Youth and Young Adults in Communities

Project Description

The project “Promoting Mental Health: Nationwide Transcultural Empowerment of Youth and Young Adults in Communities” is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. In this project, community organizers conduct workshops across Germany together with technical experts. The workshops are offered in the fields of art, music, dance, poetry, and mindfulness, providing a supportive environment to help young women and girls affected by female genital mutilation cope with their trauma.

International Conference on the Project "Promoting Mental Health: Nationwide Transcultural Empowerment of Youth and Young Adults in Communities"

On November 25, 2025, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, representatives from various communities across Germany, technical experts, and activists gathered in Hamburg for the international conference of the project “Promoting Mental Health: Nationwide Transcultural Empowerment of Youth and Young Adults in Communities”. The event sent a strong signal of solidarity, exchange, and empowerment for young women and girls in the communities, particularly those affected by FGM/C.

The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, is being implemented nationwide from July to December 2025 under the leadership of LESSAN e.V. The focus is on conducting a variety of activities implemented by community organizers together with technical experts across Germany. Through mindfulness exercises, music, art, poetry slam, painting, crocheting, dance, movement, and other creative forms of expression, the workshops create safe spaces where young women and girls find support in processing traumatic experiences.

The conference offered the attending communities from all over Germany the opportunity to present their activities, learn from one another, and forge new networks. Following the official welcome by dedicated project partners, including Ms. Katharina Bergmann from the BMFSFJ, Ms. Marianne Nguena Kana from the End FGM European Network, and Dr. Christoph Zerm, the project content was presented by Dr. Gwladys Awo, Chairwoman of LESSAN e.V. A particular focus was placed on the newly developed transcultural community platform, which will enable nationwide networking for community organizers and professionals in the future.

Afterward, the communities took the stage: organizers and participants from various federal states shared insights into their work over the past months. With impressive creativity, they presented the results of their workshops—ranging from a touching play and expressive poetry slam contributions to live musical performances. These contributions made visible the immense strength and potential within the collective activities. Heartfelt thanks go to all participants for their commitment and openness in sharing their work in Hamburg.

In a subsequent discussion round, the community organizers talked about their experiences, challenges, and successes to date. Furthermore, perspectives were developed on how the activities started during the project can be continued sustainably.

The evening concluded with an international dinner, providing space for personal conversations, new contacts, and shared celebration.

We would like to sincerely thank all participants for this successful and inspiring conference. We especially thank Ms. Katharina Bergmann from the BMFSFJ for her participation and her support of this important project.

Kick-off Meeting Hamburg

From September 5 to 7, 2025, the official launch of our project “Promoting Mental Health,” funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, took place in Hamburg. 25 dedicated community organizers and experts from all over Germany came together to lay the foundation for collaborative work to promote the mental health of young people in their communities.

The three days were characterized by lively exchange, professional input, and practical exercises that both imparted knowledge and made community tangible. The goal: participants were to learn and test practical methods and creative coping strategies, which they could then take back to their own local work.

The first day was dedicated to getting to know one another. In an open and warm atmosphere, the project goals were presented and initial networks were formed. A salsa course got the group moving, promoted mindfulness, and immediately created a sense of connection.

On the second day, the focus was initially on the technical foundations of project implementation in the local communities. Participants learned about the administrative processes surrounding project management, received our child protection policy, and had the opportunity to clarify their questions and suggestions with the project team and other participants.

In the afternoon, participants experienced the power of creative expression and how these open spaces for healing and resilience in train-the-trainer workshops. In small groups, they took part in workshops in the areas of guitar, salsa, djembe, and handpan. The day concluded with a moving poetry slam performance by a participant from Burkina Faso.

The third day invited reflection. During a collective nature walk, impressions were gathered and personal experiences were shared. A final discussion opened up the outlook for the next steps and the implementation of the developed ideas in the respective communities.

The kick-off meeting was a complete success and forms a solid foundation for the successful implementation of the project in communities nationwide. We wish the community organizers and experts much success in their endeavors!

Guitar for Mental Healing

Salsa against Trauma, Stress, and Depression

Drumming to Strengthen Mental Health

A Journey through Sound and Vibrations with the Handpan

Mental Health Walk: Strength & Resilienz

The Healing Power of Sun and Water for Your Mental Health

Experience Musical Slam Poetry with Rama

Target Group

Teenagers and young adults between 13 and 25 years old

Experts

Your task as an expert is to pass on your knowledge to the community. Together with the community organizers, you design workshops and contribute valuable experience.

Experts come from various fields—for example, music, dance, painting, movement, poetry slam, singing, poetry, and others.

Community Organizers

As part of the communities, you serve as a bridge between the experts and the communities. You inform, organize, and encourage participation in the workshops and courses offered, which are led together with the experts.

Awareness-raising work regarding the protection letter against FGM/C is an additional task.

International Conference on 2025-11-25

The national conference is being organized for November 25, 2025, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Participants include the communities, organizers, and various experts as well as regional groups contributing to FGM/C education work.