I deeply believe that when it comes to exploring sensitive topics, such as mental health, it is essential to create a loving, caring, and open environment. Spaces where we can express ourselves, be curious, make mistakes, and still feel welcomed and supported. That was exactly what we experienced during the exchange in London.
From the very first moment, the experience was transformative. We had the opportunity to meet colleagues from Latin America, with whom we had been working remotely, but had never been able to share a physical space while facilitating workshops with other young people. In London, we were able to blend together, work as a team, and facilitate workshops by combining our perspectives and tools.
The most meaningful part was discovering that despite our cultural differences, we shared common concerns and motivations about emotional well-being and the value of art as a vehicle for self-expression. We met young people from other parts of the world with similar concerns to ours, which allowed me to see in a very concrete way how mental health is a universal concern that transcends borders.
The PPP team welcomed us with immense warmth: they connected us with incredible people, invited us to discover new spaces, and gave us the opportunity to express ourselves through words and artistic creations. They gave us value as young artists, and they also filled me with energy to continue expanding and sharing this mission of valuing young people, their voices, their emotions, and their creative potential.
This trip confirmed to me that it is possible to promote positive change, to build spaces where diversity is celebrated, free expression is encouraged, and mental health is prioritized. I return with the certainty that by working together we can create something much greater than the sum of our individualities: we can build bonds of support, networks of care, and a path where future generations can live with greater freedom.
I leave with a beautiful sense of possibility. With the conviction that small encounters can turn into collective movements, and that spaces of care and art are seeds of real transformation. Above all, I return with my desire intact — and now stronger — to keep building bridges wherever they are most needed, so that no one feels they have to go through their process alone. When young voices feel heard and valued, when art becomes both a refuge and a tool, there is always room for hope.
I hope this trip is just the beginning of a connective experience of exploring mental health, not only with colleagues from my own country but with people from all over the world. I believe there is enormous power in this multicultural exchange: the possibility of learning new perspectives, sharing diverse tools, and enriching the ways in which we support each other. The more voices and realities come together, the stronger the spaces we build will be, and the freer the path will be for the youth of today and tomorrow.
By Lali, OLA project ambassador in Argentina