In the Moving Lives project, 32 teenagers put together photographic stories to reveal their hopes, fears and interests for an online exhibition launched today. The pictures also premier today at the Stratford Picture House, east London, with an accompanying documentary about the project.

The exhibition features stories like that of Murtaza, who slept in the street outside the Home Office until he was given a place to stay, and Rizwan, a 15-year-old from Pakistan who was abandoned at an unknown London station on his first day in England.

It was organised by the charity PhotoVoice, which aims to empower disadvantaged groups worldwide by teaching them photographic skills to help them speak out and transform their lives. For this exhibition it teamed up with Project DOST, a charity that helps separated refugee children.

The latest available Home Office figures show that 2,900 unaccompanied children arrived in the UK seeking asylum in 2004.

Through the Moving Lives project, 12 to 17-year-old refugees were paired with volunteers from local schools in east London to combat the isolation many young refugees experience when they first arrive in Britain, and to boost their confidence.

In a series of workshops, refuges from countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Uganda - many newly-arrived in the UK and nearly all separated from their parents - worked with seven local teenagers to produce photographic stories that reflect their lives and hopes for the future.

Murtaza, 16, had fled Afghanistan in 2004 fearing for his life, and arrived in Britain after two months travelling in the back of a lorry with nine others.

"When I arrived in London I didn't really know where I was. I went to the Home Office and slept outside in the street," he said. "I saw another boy in the street who looked like he was from Afghanistan. His name was Gholam and we have stayed together ever since. He is like my brother."

The two teenagers live with a foster family in east London, and for the exhibition Murtaza tried to record his impressions of London's inequalities.

"I was surprised when I came to England to see poor people begging. In Afghanistan we have beggars but we try and help them properly by giving them food or some work. Here people just give money and move on. It made me feel sad."

Murtaza is studying English and says his language skills are improving. In the future, he hopes to do a course in computer studies.

Local teenager Sunny, who lives in East Ham, worked with Murtaza and other refugees for the project and found it broke down barriers.

"It wasn't an issue doing this project with young refugees, they are just like us. They might have difficulties but we all got on really well. Doing activities together is a good way for people to get on," he said.

A spokeswoman for PhotoVoice, Liz Orton, said the workshops had helped build lasting friendships.

"As teenagers these refugees are already at a vulnerable time in their lives and many find the social isolation one of the hardest aspects of life to cope with when arriving in the UK," she said.

This isolation is compounded by hostile media headlines, in which refugees are often portrayed as scroungers, she added.

"Through Moving Lives, young people represent themselves as they want to be seen and heard. Their stories reflect some of the concerns and interests of teenagers around the world: they are about growing up, music, ambitions, hairstyles, families, football, education, and creating new lives in the UK," she said.

"What shines through in all of the digital stories is the positive spirit of the young people, and their sense of determination to succeed in spite of the circumstances."

· PhotoVoice projects span four continents, assisting refugees, street children, orphans, HIV/Aids sufferers and special needs groups. The charity aims to give a voice to those ignored or silenced and enable participants to become advocates for change.