In Portugal, the first YoPA‘s spin-off protocol, the intervention is being held in the parish of Algueirão-Mem Martins, located in the municipality of Sintra, very close to Lisbon (the capital). It is the most populous parish in the country, with 68,649 inhabitants according to the 2021 Census. The age distribution shows that children and adolescents (0–14 years) make up approximately 15% of the population, and young adults (15–24 years) about 12%.
Socially and economically, Algueirão-Mem Martins presents a diverse and complex landscape. Educational levels vary, with a majority holding basic or secondary education. The parish is supported by several social welfare programs and institutions that assist families in need and people experiencing homelessness.
The immigrant population is significant, making the parish one of the most ethnically diverse in the Sintra municipality. Major immigrant groups originate from Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Angola, Brazil, Romania, Ukraine, and China. Their integration is supported by local associations and the Municipal Integration Plan for Migrants, though issues such as discrimination and unequal access to opportunities persist.
Housing conditions present another challenge, with cases of overcrowding and substandard housing in certain areas. Sintra’s Local Housing Strategy identifies the parish as a priority for urban rehabilitation efforts.
The main local partner of the project is CIAPA, a youth association that focuses its activity on “Non-formal education as a complement to formal education”, with an emphasis on experimental science teaching within the STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In the social field, the association develops innovative projects aimed at promoting inclusion, integration, and the academic, social, and personal success of individuals. This is achieved through practical and experimental activities that foster the development of transversal skills, supporting the transition to active life, with a focus on employability and entrepreneurship.
The teenagers participating in the project are 12-16 years old and three PhD students and their supervisors from Lusófona University, in the field of Sports, Education, Physical Activity and Health, are the ones developing the implementation of the spin-off intervention.
First Co-Creation Phase
The first co-creation phase had 14 sessions and took place from May to July 2025, with a group of 15 teenagers, selected by the CIAPA Association. The focus was to build the team, train the co-researchers and map their environment using different methods (e.g. photovoice, neighbourhood walking, peer interviews, etc.). A comprehensive Systems Map with factors influencing their physical activity behaviour was the main output of this phase.
Second Co-Creation Phase
The second phase of the YoPA co-creation process took place between September 2025 and January 2026 and marked a decisive step. Over the course of this phase, teenagers actively shaped solutions for their local context, culminating in the collective decision to remodel a community space they themselves identified as a priority.
This phase was carried out across 13 structured sessions, during which participants deepened their understanding of the local system and their role within it. Building on this, the teenagers explored how changes to specific elements of the system could influence or alter the community, strengthening their systems-thinking skills.
As the process evolved, the group focused on identifying realistic opportunities for change, asking critical questions such as “Where can we act?” and “What changes can actually happen?”. This led to a collective shift from reflection to action, where participants decided together what to do and how to start. They moved from idea to plan and from paper to street.
The teenagers mapped the support needed to bring their idea to life, identifying allies, resources, and decision-makers essential to moving forward. As part of this process, they conducted interviews and formally presented their ideas to the President of the Parish Council and a Councilor of the Sintra Municipal Council.
This dialogue proved transformative. With the support of the President of the Parish Council and the active involvement of the Councilor—who became a new stakeholder in the project—the proposal to remodel the identified space received institutional backing. This endorsement not only validated the young people’s work but also reinforced the importance of youth participation in local decision-making.
