October 6th, 2025
From September 17th to 19th, 2025, YoPA was represented at the HEPA Europe Conference in Kaunas, Lithuania – one of the leading gatherings for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to promoting health-enhancing physical activity.
Maria Fernanda Souza, PhD student from Universidade Lusófona, represented the YoPA consortium and delivered an oral presentation titled:
“Co-creating interventions with adolescents for movement and wellbeing: A realist-informed evaluation of early barriers and facilitators in the multi-country YoPA project.”
The presentation highlighted the project’s innovative participatory approach and shared valuable insights from the early stages of co-creating interventions with adolescents across multiple countries.
YoPA’s participation in this international event marks another step in disseminating the project’s approach and fostering dialogue on inclusive and participatory strategies to promote active and healthy lifestyles for young people.
“I really enjoyed participating in the HEPA Europe conference! It was inspiring to see how co-creation is gaining more attention in the physical activity field – I saw many presentations talking about this approach. Plus, the conference brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who are genuinely committed to collaborate and find better solutions with communities, not just for them.”
(Maria Fernanda Souza)