Young participants from Luxembourg and Romania involved in the Empowering Young Changemakers project have created a powerful PhotoVoice exhibition in Luxembourg, aiming to draw attention to community issues that many of us see every day — yet often assume that someone else will take care of.
Through their photographs, the young people chose to transform awareness into action. Their visual stories capture the realities of their communities: places that matter, people who inspire, contrasts that raise questions, and hopes that deserve to be heard. Using the PhotoVoice method, where photography meets civic engagement, they explored what belonging means, how inequalities manifest, and where solidarity can be found.
Gabriel Somesan reflected „I believe the challenges I documented can be solved because they come from human choices, and humans can make better ones. When these issues are shown clearly, people are more likely to care and respond. Creativity helps start conversations in a natural and relatable way. It makes people stop, think, and talk together about problems that are often ignored, which is the first step toward real change.
Each image acts as a reminder that change begins when we stop waiting for others to fix what affects us all.
Two of the young exhibitors shared why they believe the challenges they documented can — and must — be addressed, and how creativity can open conversations that communities urgently need.”
Ștefan Căpitănescu shared „When I documented these challenges, I was convinced that change is possible because the solutions are often small but impactful. They don’t require massive investments or new infrastructure, but rather a rethinking of how we consume and function as a society. Most of these challenges are systemic rather than cultural — policies and decision-making structures shape the majority of outcomes, even when a culture of sustainability is claimed. Through images and captions, I wanted to make these issues visible in a direct and human way, using creativity to spark conversations that facts alone often fail to start. By raising awareness through storytelling and visual impact, I hope to remind communities — and those in positions of power — that meaningful change is both achievable and urgent.”
The exhibition encourages viewers not just to observe, but to become active citizens: to see, listen, and choose to take part in shaping their communities. Empowering Young Changemakers is an Erasmus+ project that develops creativity, civic engagement, and critical thinking among young people from Luxembourg and Romania, through educational and cultural initiatives carried out by partner organizations from both countries.
In parallel with the exhibition in Luxembourg, similar showcases were organized in Romania, at the University of Oradea Library and the University of Bucharest, under the title Community Needs. These exhibitions continue the same mission: to amplify the voices of young people and highlight the challenges they witness around them.
Earlier this autumn, thirty young people from Luxembourg and Romania took part in a transformative experience during the Community Changers Bootcamp in Bucharest — a week that reshaped how they think, act, and engage with society.
Through interactive workshops, team challenges, inspirational Living Library sessions, and meetings with professionals from various fields, participants explored themes such as civic engagement, authentic leadership, project management, and advocacy. They learned how to turn ideas into concrete plans, how to communicate with decision-makers, and how to design initiatives that respond to real community needs. As David Zhang put it: “I learned how important organization is. Methods like SMART helped me transform my ideas into concrete plans.”
Beyond workshops, participants discovered Bucharest, visited the House of Europe, and built friendships in a multicultural environment full of energy. Alexia Maria Zamfirescu shared: “It was one of the most beautiful weeks of my life. I discovered that I enjoy being a leader and that I want to work with people.”
For many, the bootcamp was a testing ground for creativity and initiative. Ștefan Căpitănescu reflected: “I learned how to express the problems around me in front of those who make decisions. Values and reasoning — these can influence public opinion.” And Samantha Hellenbrand added: “It was a captivating experience. Teamwork and the creative solutions for real problems inspired me.”
About the Project
The Community Changers Bootcamp is part of the Empowering Young Changemakers program, designed to equip young people from Luxembourg and Romania with skills in leadership, advocacy, and project management. Participants learn to identify pressing issues in their communities, express them through creative tools such as PhotoVoice, develop solutions, and present them in front of authorities and the public.
In the upcoming months, the youth will implement eight local initiatives focusing on social inclusion, environmental protection, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people. The project also aims to increase awareness of youth needs through public activities and social media campaigns.
The initiative is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by L’École des Valeurs and Școala de Valori.
More information is available here: www.lecoledesvaleurs.eu/empowering-young-changemakers.