In the spring of 2023, young people from four countries, France, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, came together in Krosno, Poland, for a youth exchange called Pictures Changing Perspectives. Participants aged 18 to 25, representing partner organisations OENE (France), INPRO (Poland), Associação Nó Górdio (Portugal), and Cultivate Cornwall CIC (UK), took on a challenge that was anything but ordinary: to build a full-scale photo exhibition entirely from scratch.
From capturing and selecting images to printing, framing, and finally presenting their work to the public at a vernissage held at BWA Krosno, every step of the process was in their hands. But Pictures Changing Perspectives was never just about photography.
Through the lens of their cameras, participants explored some of the most pressing social issues facing young people across Europe today. Human rights, the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the real barriers that youth encounter in modern society, all of it found its way into the images they created. Their photos didn't just document these challenges; they also reflected the potential that international projects and cultural exchange hold for young people willing to step up and engage.
The exhibition became something more than a collection of striking visuals. It became a statement. A reminder that photography can be a tool for education, awareness, and activism just as much as it can be a form of art. Through visual storytelling, these young participants showed what youth engagement through Erasmus+ funded exchanges can look like when it's done with intention and passion.
It's our hope that other youth organisations will look at projects like this one and feel inspired to use creative tools like photography to bring people together, spark meaningful conversations, and drive real social change.
Want to see more? Head over to our Facebook and Instagram pages to explore the full story and photos from the exchange.
This project was co-financed under the Erasmus+ programme, in partnership with:
Organization for Empowerment and Non-formal Education (OENE) – France
INPRO – Poland
Associação Nó Górdio – Portugal
Cultivate Cornwall CIC – United Kingdom
