Balance in Action is designed to reframe how youth work approaches mental well-being, by placing movement, rhythm, and reflection at the center of the learning process. The project responds to a growing need among young people: the desire for accessible, non-clinical tools to manage stress, build resilience, and reconnect with their bodies and communities. From a youth work perspective, our objectives are: 1. To promote mental well-being through movement-based learning Youth workers will guide participants in exploring how physical activity can support emotional regulation, focus, and stress relief. Activities will include relaxation techniques, rhythm-based routines, and embodied reflection, all designed to be inclusive and adaptable. 2. To strengthen youth agency and self-expression Participants will be treated as co-creators from the start. They’ll shape the project’s voice through storytelling, content creation, and peer-led workshops. This approach nurtures ownership, confidence, and leadership, core outcomes in youth work that go beyond passive participation. 3. Promoting inclusion through non-formal, accessible methods The project prioritizes young people from rural and underserved backgrounds. Youth workers will use hands-on, jargon-free formats, such as movement challenges, creative media, and group reflection, to ensure that all participants can engage meaningfully, regardless of prior experience or ability. 4. To build sustainable peer networks and community engagement Each national team will organize a local follow-up event, supported by youth workers, to share project insights and invite others into the conversation. These events will reinforce the role of young people as local advocates and extend the project’s impact beyond the exchange. 5. To equip youth workers with practical tools for integrating well-being into their practice Through workshops, shared resources, and daily reflection sessions, youth workers will gain new strategies for embedding movement and mental health support into their ongoing work. This includes facilitating safe spaces, responding to emotional needs, and using physical activity as a form of dialogue and care. 6. To advocate for experience-based youth work models The project will produce policy recommendations and practitioner resources that highlight the value of movement, reflection, and youth-led design. These will be shared with educators, wellness coaches, youth organizations, and policymakers to influence how youth work is structured and supported. Balance in Action aims to shift youth work from instruction to co-creation; from static programming to dynamic, embodied learning. It offers a model where well-being is not an add-on, but a foundation, and where young people are not just participants, but leaders.