As part of the myHood project, we designed and delivered a series of participatory workshops with teenagers in Thessaloniki, Greece, to test and refine the myHood digital mapping tool. The workshops combined guided neighborhood walks with hands-on and digital mapping activities, enabling students to critically observe, document, and evaluate their surroundings.
Working in pairs and groups, participants explored different types of urban spaces, such as pedestrian streets, playgrounds, and parks, identifying both challenges and opportunities related to accessibility, safety, and design. Back in the classroom, they transferred their findings into the digital tool, experimenting with features that encouraged active engagement and collaboration.
The process not only helped refine the usability of the myHood tool but also sparked meaningful discussions about nature-based design solutions and ways to improve their neighborhoods. Both educators and students recognized the value of the workshops, highlighting their potential to inspire young people to actively engage in shaping more inclusive, sustainable, and youth-friendly urban spaces.
