My name is Eleonora Iannotta, a psychosocial practitioner working at the crossroads of humanitarian action, mental health, and community well-being. My entrepreneurial vision is the creation of the BARAKA Holistic Wellness Center, a multidisciplinary space integrating art therapy, body–mind practices, and community-based healing programmes that foster emotional, physical, and social balance. I discovered the EYE programme while seeking a pathway to transform this vision into a sustainable social enterprise. This journey led me to collaborate with Laura Iballa, founder of Espacio Lume in Las Palmas, a dynamic center dedicated to art therapy and holistic well-being. Through this exchange, I gained hands-on entrepreneurial experience, co-developed innovative therapeutic methodologies, and strengthened the strategic and operational foundations needed to launch my own initiative while building lasting European collaborations.
During my EYE stay, I worked in close daily collaboration with my Host Entrepreneur, Laura Iballa, founder of Espacio Lume, contributing as an active partner to therapeutic, community, and organizational activities. Together, we co-designed and implemented psychosomatic and art-therapy-based interventions, including the programme “Sentir para Crear – Arteterapia y EMDR,” delivering individual and group sessions for children, families, and adults in community and health-related settings. I also supported the reorganization of the physical space, development of new programme schedules, stakeholder mapping, partnership building with local organizations, preparation of project proposals, and the design of communication and outreach strategies. The relationship with my Host was based on continuous knowledge exchange, joint decision-making, and co-creation of methodologies, allowing both of us to strengthen our professional practices and develop long-term collaboration perspectives.
The exchange generated significant professional, entrepreneurial, and networking benefits. I strengthened my skills in project design, service development, community-based interventions, partnership building, communication strategies, and social enterprise management. A key achievement was the co-development and implementation of innovative psychosomatic and art-therapy methodologies, tested in community and clinical settings and now forming part of the core services of my future business initiative.
The experience also created strong prospects for continued cooperation with my Host Entrepreneur through joint project development, participation in future funding calls, and exchange of professional services. Additionally, I expanded my professional network by establishing connections with NGOs, community associations, therapists, and institutional actors, opening opportunities for long-term collaborations, international partnerships, and the scaling of joint well-being initiatives.
EYE was more than an exchange—it was a living laboratory where ideas met reality. Through collaboration, creativity, and community engagement, I discover how to transform a personal vision into a concrete entrepreneurial path rooted in healing, innovation, and social impact.