Event date: 16th January 2025, Brussels
On January 16th, 2025, the YEAH! project officially took off with its kick-off meeting held in Brussels. This gathering brought together representatives from the 19 partner institutions across 10 countries, laying the foundation for a 5-year collaborative effort to promote health and well-being among children and adolescents across Europe.
What the Kick-Off Made Possible
This first in-person meeting was essential to:
Establish a shared vision of YEAH!’s objectives, values, and expected impacts;
Clarify roles and responsibilities of each partner within the 13 work packages;
Synchronize scientific and operational timelines, especially for the early phases of the project (WP1 knowledge base and WP2 co-creation);
Ensure understanding of administrative, financial and ethical frameworks as defined by the European Commission and HaDEA;
Initiate collaboration dynamics between disciplines and countries, blending expertise from environmental epidemiology, physical activity, psychology, digital technology, public health, and education.
Key Highlights
The Project Coordinator (UGA) presented the general framework, societal context, and high-level goals of YEAH!
Sara Brazys, our Project Officer (HaDEA) provided guidance on best practices in Horizon Europe project management, lump sum funding, and reporting expectations.
Work package leaders gave detailed overviews of their respective tasks, creating alignment and identifying early synergies.
Parallel working sessions allowed the WP1 and WP2 teams to begin shaping the knowledge base and co-creation methodology, two pillars of the intervention.
A Strong Start for a Bold Mission
By the end of the day, the consortium had:
A clear roadmap for the first 18 months;
Defined next steps for co-creation labs, tool validation, and digital development;
Reinforced its commitment to equity, scientific excellence, and innovation.
The kick-off marks the start of an ambitious journey to design a personalised, inclusive, and scalable intervention that will help European youth adopt healthier lifestyles in a rapidly digitalising society.
