Empowering youth through participatory action research to tackle physical inactivity
The YoPA Project Team explores how youth-led participatory action research can address physical inactivity, non-communicable diseases, and health inequalities.
Physical inactivity among young people has become a global public health concern. It affects youth in vulnerable situations most strongly. At the same time, sedentary lifestyles and health inequalities continue to grow. Traditional intervention models have not kept pace with the complex realities young people face today. Therefore, new approaches are needed. These approaches must be inclusive, practical, and empowering. Most importantly, they must recognise youth not just as beneficiaries, but as partners in change.
Moving beyond traditional research models
Much research on physical activity comes from WEIRD contexts, meaning Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic settings. While this work has value, it does not reflect the full diversity of youth experiences worldwide. As a result, many interventions fail to scale or reach those most in need. To achieve equitable and lasting impact, research must reflect real-world social and cultural conditions.
The YoPA, or Youth-centred Participatory Action, project addresses this gap. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme, YoPA brings together ten partners across different regions. The project shows how youth-led participatory action research can drive innovation while delivering practical results. By centring young people aged 12 to 18, especially those in vulnerable contexts, YoPA challenges conventional research models and promotes inclusion.
The YoPA model: youth at the centre
At its core, YoPA empowers young people to act as co-researchers and change agents. Youth take part from the very beginning. They help define research questions, identify barriers, and design solutions to increase physical activity in their communities.
This approach delivers clear benefits. First, it builds strong engagement and ownership. When youth shape the process, they commit more deeply to the outcomes. Second, it develops leadership and skills. Through mentoring and hands-on activities, participants strengthen problem-solving, communication, and advocacy abilities. Finally, it ensures relevance. Solutions reflect local cultures, environments, and lived experiences rather than external assumptions.
Working across diverse global contexts
To avoid WEIRD-centred limitations, YoPA operates in four cities across two continents. These include Aalborg in Denmark, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Osogbo in Nigeria, and Soweto in South Africa. Each location presents unique social, cultural, and urban challenges. In addition, YoPA methods have already begun to influence new initiatives in Lisbon and other European cities.
This diversity matters. It allows researchers to test participatory methods in very different settings. It also helps refine tools, so they remain flexible and scalable. Above all, it reinforces YoPA’s commitment to equity by focusing on communities often excluded from mainstream research.
With youth in the lead, and support from local NGOs, municipalities, and academic partners, YoPA creates strong alliances for health promotion.
Collaboration through co-creation
Collaboration sits at the heart of YoPA’s progress. Young people work closely with municipal leaders, community organisations, and researchers. Together, they identify opportunities to increase physical activity and address local barriers.
This shared process creates momentum. Solutions emerge through dialogue rather than top-down decisions. Feedback loops allow ideas to evolve. As a result, partnerships grow stronger and more resilient. Health promotion becomes a shared responsibility rather than an external intervention.
Innovative evaluation methods
Participatory projects require flexible evaluation methods. YoPA addresses this by using Realist Evaluation. This theory-driven approach examines not only whether an intervention works, but also how, for whom, and under what conditions. It helps explain why change happens in some contexts and not others.
Alongside this, YoPA has developed the SUPER AIM framework. This new tool captures outcomes, processes, and wider effects specific to youth-led participatory action research. Together, these methods provide continuous learning and help refine interventions as the project evolves.
Building the YoPA Toolbox
Insights from YoPA’s work are being collected into the YoPA Toolbox. This resource will support other cities and organisations that want to adopt a youth-led approach. It will include practical guides, stakeholder engagement templates, evaluation tools, and case studies from each site.
By sharing these resources openly, YoPA aims to support a wider movement. Communities across the world can adapt the model and benefit from youth creativity and leadership.
A foundation for sustainable change
What sets YoPA apart is its trust in young people. By treating youth as drivers of change, the project supports healthier communities today and builds future leadership. Young participants gain skills, confidence, and a sense of agency that extends beyond the project.
As YoPA continues, one lesson stands out. Sustainable change grows from trust, respect, and shared power with those most affected by the problem.
Looking ahead
Youth physical inactivity remains a pressing challenge. Conventional approaches have not delivered enough progress, particularly for marginalised groups. YoPA offers a different path. By placing youth at the centre and supporting them with strong partnerships and research, the project tackles both inactivity and the inequalities behind it.
YoPA invites policymakers, educators, practitioners, community organisations, and young people to join this effort. Together, they can expand learning, scale impact, and build healthier futures.
This text was prepared by António L Palmeira, Leader of YoPA’s Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation Work Package, and reviewed by the YoPA leadership team.
Funded by the European Union under Agreement 101095423. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Health and Digital Executive Agency.
