Unleashing Creativity: From Lens to Life

Unleashing Creativity: From Lens to Life is an Erasmus+ KA153 Training Course for youth workers, facilitators, trainers and educators who are active in the field of youth work and non-formal learning.

The training explores how photography and creative methods can be used as practical tools in youth work. The project focuses on two main aspects:

• using photography to improve the visibility and communication of youth work,
• using participatory photography to help young people express their experiences, ideas and perspectives.

Throughout the training, participants will take part in practical and non-formal learning activities covering photography basics, composition, visual storytelling, creativity methods, Photovoice, the Six Thinking Hats method, digital communication, media literacy and ethical photography.

Participants will also explore how photography can support youth participation, advocacy and self-expression, particularly for young people who may find verbal communication difficult. The programme connects these methods with the European Youth Goals, the ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers, YOCOMO and Youthpass.

The training is strongly based on learning by doing. Participants will experience the full process themselves: developing ideas, taking photographs, reflecting on their meaning, selecting and editing images, creating visual narratives and preparing their work for presentation.

A central part of the programme will be Photovoice, a participatory photography method that allows young people to document issues that are important to them and use images as a starting point for dialogue and participation. During the mobility, participants will experience the complete Photovoice process so that they can later apply the method in their own youth work.

The training will culminate in a photography exhibition, where participants will present selected work created during the mobility. After returning home, participants are expected to transfer some of the methods into their local youth work and organise a photography or Photovoice activity with young people, ideally leading to a small physical or digital exhibition.

The activity is intended for people who:

• are 18 years or older
• are active youth workers, facilitators, trainers, educators, mentors or otherwise regularly work with young people
• are involved in non-formal learning or youth work
• are interested in photography, creativity and visual communication
• want to improve how they communicate and present their youth work
• are interested in using photography as a method for youth participation and expression
• are willing to actively participate in the full programme
• have a good working level of English
• are prepared to transfer the methods into their local youth work after the training

Previous professional photography experience is not required. The training is designed for participants with different levels of experience and will focus on practical methods that can realistically be used in everyday youth work.

Elligible partner countries: 

Luxembourg, Türkiye, Serbia, Poland, Belgium, Spain, France, Estonia, Portugal and the Netherlands.

Practical information

Accommodation and meals are provided during the project.

Travel costs are reimbursed according to Erasmus+ rules and the applicable distance bands.

Participants should bring a smartphone or camera if possible. Each national group should also have access to at least one laptop for editing activities.

Apply here:

https://forms.gle/iBQfyh1JvvKAQ2Wj6