Youth-Well in Colour: “Carry Your Voice: Paint Your Tote Bag for Youth Empowerment”

Young people in Cyprus express themselves through art, reflection, and community engagement as part of the Youth-Well project.

On the evening of 25 June 2025, Athalassa Park came alive with colour, creativity, and conversation, as young people aged 18–30 gathered for “Carry Your Voice: Paint Your Tote Bag for Youth Empowerment” — a unique, hands-on workshop organised by CARDET and KOKEN under the EU-funded Youth-Well project.

The event offered participants a safe and inspiring space to explore vital themes such as mental health, resilience, and active citizenship. Through a blend of artistic expression and open dialogue, young attendees were encouraged to reflect on their experiences, values, and aspirations.

The workshop opened with a short but impactful talk on mental health, setting the tone for an evening of self-expression and awareness. It was followed by a guided creative session led by artist-researcher Andriana Panagi and psychology researcher Giota Mastrosavvaki, PhD (c), who encouraged participants to translate their thoughts and emotions into personalised tote bag designs.

With all materials provided, participants turned blank canvases into vibrant statements — visual narratives that not only showcased their artistic talents but also highlighted their individual and collective voices on issues that matter.

This event forms part of the wider Youth-Well initiative, which aims to promote the wellbeing and empowerment of young people across Europe by encouraging creative engagement and community building.

CARDET and KOKEN extend their sincere thanks to all who participated in this inspiring event, and to the facilitators whose guidance and passion helped bring the workshop to life.

Watch some highlights from the event available here!

The Youth-Well project tackles the challenges at the intersection of European youth, mental health, democracy and resilience. One of its biggest goals is to connect young people across participating Member States so they can take their future, their mental health, and their participation in democracy into their own hands. Youth-Well also helps young people set up their own initiatives and projects which equally advocate for mental health and active citizenship.

Read more about the project here.