The overarching aim of “Focus on You Empowering Youth through Photography and Positive Self-Image” is to strengthen the capacity of youth workers to support young people’s self-esteem, identity, and emotional wellbeing by introducing creative, photography-based methods that can be adapted to diverse youth work contexts. In an era where young people are constantly exposed to curated digital images and pressured by social comparison, this project responds to an urgent challenge: many struggle with self-image, body confidence, and mental health, while youth workers often lack the tools to address these sensitive issues in an empowering and accessible way. By implementing this initiative, we want to equip youth workers with knowledge, confidence, and practical methodologies to create safe, creative spaces where young people can express themselves, reflect on their identity, and build resilience. Through experiential training, participants will explore how photography and visual storytelling can become non-formal education tools for self-expression, reflection, and empowerment. They will learn how to design and facilitate workshops where young people use the camera as a mirror and a voice – not to achieve “perfect” images, but to tell authentic stories about themselves. The co-creation of a collective photo-zine during the project will serve as both a learning tool and a tangible result that can inspire similar creative processes in their local communities. The project also has a strong focus on inclusiveness. Many young people with fewer opportunities – including those living in rural areas, from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or facing discrimination due to body image, identity, or migration history – are particularly vulnerable to low self-esteem and social exclusion. By developing creative and adaptive facilitation strategies, the project will enable youth workers to engage meaningfully with these groups, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to see themselves represented in a positive and empowering way. The international nature of the training adds further value by enabling participants to exchange cultural perspectives on identity, beauty, and representation, enriching their professional practice and broadening their understanding of how self-image is shaped across Europe. Another important dimension is the wellbeing of youth workers themselves. Many professionals in the field face burnout, compassion fatigue, or frustration when working with emotionally demanding topics. By integrating sessions on self-reflection, self-care, and creativity as resilience tools, the project will help youth workers sustain their own motivation and emotional balance. This not only benefits their personal wellbeing but also strengthens the sustainability and quality of their work with young people. Finally, the project seeks to contribute to the broader recognition of youth work as a driver of wellbeing and inclusion in the digital age. By producing the collective photo-zine and disseminating it through exhibitions, online platforms, and youth networks, we will ensure that the outcomes inspire a wider audience of practitioners and organisations. The project demonstrates that youth work can use arts-based and creative approaches to tackle pressing issues such as body shaming, self-esteem, and digital pressures, while promoting resilience and empowerment. In this way, the project combines professional development, intercultural learning, inclusiveness, and creativity to enhance the quality of youth work and its long-term impact on young people’s lives.