“It’s connected us”: How a youth-led mural project has helped young people build their confidence, connection and pride

Seeing how strongly young people responded to creative expression and artmaking, MCM Youth Foyers Youth Development Coach Bri Tuohy (she/her) made sure to create opportunities for residents to get involved.

With a $20,000 grant from Yarra City Council and support from the building owner, Unison, professional artists Daniel Van De Wiel and Seth Masters from It Stands Out collaborated with residents throughout April 2026 to design and deliver the project.

“This one was designed to be their ideas from the very beginning,” says Bri. “Teaching them skills, and then them creating the artwork with the guidance of professional mural artists.” Through a series of street art workshops, residents explored the history and styles of graffiti and street art, shared their interests, and developed the ideas that would shape the final works.

After finalising the designs and learning safe spray-painting techniques, participants built their skills through the canvas and garage mural painting sessions.

The result? Three canvases were painted for the three residential floors, each focusing on an element: water, air, and earth. In the garage, nature meets the city with a mural that reads “Keep it moving”, a reminder to keep progressing and growing.

“To me, it’s a theme of comfort. When you think of relaxing scenery, you might imagine a forest or a hilly area, a river, a nice sunset, and warmth on your skin. I hope other people feel that when they see these, too,” resident Jai said.

When it comes to the murals, Seth says they can help people. “When you find yourself emotionally dysregulated, just walking by running water, hearing birds chirp, and being in fresh air can bring you back to a grounded place,” Seth says.

Each artwork was a chance for young people to express themselves creatively, build connections, and learn new techniques with the help of professional graffiti artists.

Jai and David (both residents at the Youth Foyer) had worked in jobs that involved basic spray-paint techniques. David says, “I’ve learned more complex techniques and improved my skills.” Seth, from It Stands Out, also saw clear growth in the group, saying, “Some of the young people started out very unsure of themselves and slowly built up this confidence, then sharpened their skills really quickly.”

“It’s been pretty cool to have my ideas involved in the project and designs,” says David.

Once the canvases were painted, they were laid out on a table in a communal area of the building so anyone who couldn’t make the sessions had a chance to get involved. Both the canvases and the mural have become ongoing artworks, open to new drawings.

“People in the building, including staff, have added drawings that match the themes. It’s connected us, as everyone in the building has been involved in some way,” Jai said. “They will be a living thing, something young people can add to. If new young people come in and they want to make their mark on the space, they can,” Daniel says.

This project has resulted in a vibrant transformation of the foyer environment, as well as a shared achievement that reflects the creativity, collaboration and individuality of the residents who made it possible.

“People add meaning to their surroundings when they contribute to things displayed in their environment – it’s a visual representation of them in their space and reinforces their connection to it. It’s a chance to put your own stamp on something, mark a memory, and make it yours,” Seth said.

At the end of the project, the group held a well-earned celebration and discussed experiences, processes, and outcomes. Bri, the Youth Development Coach, helped bring the project to life with the goal of improving resident relationships and pride in place. She shares how important it is for her to create spaces where young people can express themselves and have their ideas, individuality, and skills valued and reflected.

“I hope the project brings these young people a sense of connection with their community and housing. But I also hope they take away new skills and confidence in those skills and themselves,” Daniel said.

Learn more and support our Youth Foyers by making a donation, or learn more about our homelessness services.