On this year's Day for Change, which took place on 11 April 2026, CTK hosted activities addressing mental health and inner peace young people.
The programme included:
- Socialising with therapy dogs: The Little Helping Paws came to visit us and help us learn for a day. Hanging out with a dog has been shown to lower stress hormone levels and increase feelings of calm, and petting a dog can act like meditation.
- Calming by creating: We relaxed physically with simple exercises, then used a guided creative process to create a small decorative object in three steps that connected us to our personal story. Creativity has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, boost cognitive skills and self-confidence, and help express emotions.
- A healthy mind in a healthy body - Pilates has a very positive impact on mental health, combining movement, breathing and focus to reduce stress, improve mind-body connection, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep.
Author of the photos Petra Durini
Why did we decide to dedicate a day to volunteering activities that address mental health?
The results of numerous studies around the world show that young people in today's world are facing severe challenges in the areas of mental health and inner peace. Mental distress, which carries symptoms of anxiety and depression, is on the rise, partly as a result of the environment and culture in which we live. Awareness-raising and preventive action are two important factors that can help to mitigate the effects before more severe mental distress occurs.
About Day for Change: National Voluntary Action A day for change was created to encourage citizens_k to actively respond to the needs of their community. Organised by Slovenian Philanthropy for the 17th consecutive year, the campaign brought together many volunteers, organisations, municipalities, schools, companies and other actors across Slovenia. This year, the campaign is under the motto Give us peace.
