Handbook

🎨 CREATIYOK – Creative Arts as Therapy Tools in Youth Work

The CREATIYOK project uses the power of art — from painting and music to drama and movement — to strengthen young people's emotional well-being, boost their confidence, and promote social inclusion. Developed by partners from Poland, Cyprus, and Latvia, our new CREATIYOK Handbook is a practical guide full of activities, insights, and methods for youth workers and educators.

📄 Download the Handbook (PDF) in English: 

The Erasmus+ KA210 project CREATIYOK is a collaboration between OPEN SOUL (Poland), ACPELIA (Cyprus), and Young Folks (Latvia). It brings together research, practical workshops, and artistic expression to create innovative methods for youth empowerment.

📄 Download the Handbook (PDF) in Greek: Handbook GR

Why Creative Arts?

Creative arts offer a universal language for self-expression and communication. They can:

• Strengthen emotional resilience and well-being.

• Boost self-confidence and identity development.

• Build teamwork, empathy, and inclusion.

• Provide non-verbal pathways to connect with youth from diverse backgrounds.

The CREATIYOK Handbook

Our handbook is the main output of the project, based on:

• Surveys with over 260 participants in 3 countries.

• Interviews with youth workers, educators, and therapists.

• Practical testing of creative activities in youth work.

It includes:

• Research on the benefits of arts in youth work.

• Ready-to-use activities using painting, music, drama, dance, photography, and mixed-media arts.

• Guidelines to adapt activities for different groups.

• Tools to measure the impact of arts-based approaches.

Languages and Accessibility

The handbook is freely available in English, Polish, Greek, and Latvian, ensuring it can be used across Europe in both formal and non-formal educational settings.

You can contact us if you want it in the following languages:

English: you can download it from this site 

Polish: ask for it from biuro@opensoul.pl

Greek: ask for it from acpeliacy@gmail.com

Latvian: ask for it from info@youngfolks.lv  

Impact

By integrating creative arts into youth work, CREATIYOK empowers young people to explore their identities, express their emotions, and connect meaningfully with others. It also equips youth workers with practical, innovative methods to support inclusion and well-being.