July 28th, 2025
On June 20th, the YoPA Netherlands team (Amsterdam) celebrated the conclusion of a meaningful partnership with Calandlyceum, a secondary school located in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. This collaboration marked a key moment in YoPA’s youth-centered approach to tackling physical inactivity.
Since February, researchers and facilitators Jesse Vargas and Leto Demetriadou, together with Rayn, research assistant and co-facilitator, worked closely with Kavita Mathoera, teacher of social science and social studies, and her students. Over the course of several weeks, students from two of her classes explored the challenges of physical inactivity in their neighbourhood from their own perspectives as adolescents.
Guided by the YoPA team, the students co-created insights and translated them into compelling stories. These were presented during the final event at the school, showcasing their creativity, analytical thinking, and lived experiences. The presentations highlighted the interwoven factors influencing physical activity, including neighborhood safety, motivation, social influences, and accessibility of resources.
The event was also attended by YoPA Principal Investigator Prof. Mai Chin A Paw, Associate Professor Dr. Teatske Altenburg, and Senior Researcher Dr. Leonie Klaufus from Amsterdam UMC, alongside Maida du Mée, area broker at the Municipality of Amsterdam.
This collaboration not only amplified youth voices but also sparked rich discussions among researchers, educators, and local government about the barriers and opportunities to promoting active lifestyles in Nieuw-West.
We are deeply grateful to Kavita Mathoera and her students, as well as to all partners who contributed to this impactful process. Their openness, creativity, and commitment have been vital to shaping locally grounded insights for action.
🧡 Stay tuned for more stories from YoPA as we continue co-creating healthier communities with youth across sites!