Project number: 2025-1-LT02-KA154-YOU-000304744
Implementation period: 01.10.2025 - 31.03.2027

Change Starts Here

This project aims to empower young people by equipping them with essential skills in project management, leadership, community engagement, and advocacy. We want to create a generation of youth leaders who can drive positive change in communities. By identifying local needs, we discovered that young people desire more opportunities to make an impact, access to mentorship, and greater recognition for their contributions.

What is this project about?

This project is dedicated to fostering the next generation of youth leaders by equipping them with essential skills in project management, leadership, community engagement, and advocacy. Driven by the insight that young people actively desire more meaningful opportunities to make an impact, the initiative bridges critical gaps by providing vital access to mentorship and ensuring greater recognition for their contributions. Ultimately, the project empowers youth to identify and address local needs, transforming their passion into actionable, community-driven change.

Project Objectives

📋

Leadership Skills

Train 30 young people in project management, leadership, community engagement and advocacy.

🎤

Youth Advocacy

Empower 50 young people to identify community needs and present ideas to decision-makers.

🌱

Local Initiatives

Implement at least 6 youth-led initiatives focusing on inclusion, environment and youth habits.

📸

Community Awareness

Raise awareness among at least 180 community members through exhibitions and workshops.

Partners

Centrinės Europos Tribūna

The coordinating organisation supporting young people through non-formal education, youth participation, and international projects.

Bright Minds

Our partner organisation from Bulgaria, working with young people through youth participation, creativity, inclusion, and community engagement.

PhotoVoice Workshops

The journey begins with PhotoVoice workshops, where young people use photography and storytelling to reflect on their communities, identify challenges, and express their perspectives in a creative way. Workshops happened in Lithuania and Bulgaria where youth aged 15–25 discovered photography as a tool to give people a voice through captured images.

PhotoVoice Workshops — Vilnius, Lithuania

Young people in Vilnius explored photography as a tool for social change, learning how images can communicate experiences, challenges, and community needs. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants developed visual storytelling skills and reflected on issues that matter to them.

PhotoVoice Workshops — Bansko, Bulgaria

Workshops continued in Bansko, Bulgaria, where participants didn't just take photos — they explored the stories behind them, connected them to real-life community challenges, and transformed observations into meaningful conversations. The workshops encouraged young people to think critically, share perspectives, and prepare ideas that can inspire positive change.

PhotoVoice Exhibitions

These stories come to life during the PhotoVoice exhibitions, which are a key highlight of the project. The exhibitions are not just about displaying photographs — they are about creating a space for dialogue and reflection. Visitors are invited to see their communities through the eyes of young people, discover the stories behind the images, and engage with the challenges and opportunities highlighted by the participants. Through visual storytelling, young people share their perspectives on topics such as inclusion, environmental challenges, youth well-being, and community development. Each exhibition combines photography with interactive discussions, guided tours, and opportunities for visitors to exchange ideas. Community members, stakeholders, and decision-makers are encouraged to reflect on the issues raised and explore possible solutions together with young people. The exhibitions serve as a bridge between youth voices and the wider community, transforming personal experiences into meaningful conversations and inspiring future action.

PhotoVoice Exhibition in Lithuania

The first PhotoVoice exhibition in Lithuania showcased photographs and stories created by young participants during the workshops. Through powerful visual narratives, participants highlighted community needs, personal experiences, and ideas for positive change. Visitors had the opportunity to engage with the stories behind the photographs, participate in discussions, and reflect on how young people perceive their communities. The exhibition created meaningful dialogue between youth, local residents, educators, and decision-makers while celebrating the creativity and perspectives of young people. Take a look at some moments from the PhotoVoice Exhibition in Lithuania.

Virtual Photo Gallery

Welcome to the Change Starts Here Virtual Photo Gallery. This interactive space showcases a curated selection of visual stories captured by young participants during the PhotoVoice workshops in Lithuania and Bulgaria. Each photograph serves as a powerful lens into local realities—highlighting critical community challenges, environmental issues, and youth perspectives. We invite you to explore these striking images, read the deeply personal narratives behind them in both English and Bulgarian or Lithuanian, and reflect on the community-driven change these young leaders are advocating for.