“The Island I Dream Of: Learning About My Home – Designing a Better Tomorrow”
The Social Inclusion Observatory of the South Aegean Region, with the support of the innovation company Crowdpolicy IKE, successfully implemented a creative and participatory workshop for the 6th-grade students of the 3rd Primary School of Ermoupolis, Syros, on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The action titled “The Island I Dream Of: Learning About My Home – Designing a Better Tomorrow” highlighted the active engagement of the students, who took on a meaningful role in getting to know their local area, understanding key concepts of social inclusion, and shaping proposals for a better future.
The informational–educational workshop had the following main objectives:
-To enhance students’ knowledge about their local community.
-To help them understand concepts of social inclusion and equality.
-To cultivate skills of participation, cooperation, and creative thinking.
-To highlight the needs, priorities, and proposals of the children themselves regarding the improvement of daily life on their island.
The event began with an interactive group icebreaker game, followed by a presentation from the project manager, Kyriaki Kyritsi, on social data and their importance in shaping actions and policies. Afterwards, Giorgos Karamanolis presented the digital tools of the Social Inclusion Observatory, giving students the opportunity to interact with and explore each tool individually.
In the next session, Konstantina Kourkoumari and Theodora Symeonoglou, using interactive methods and with the students’ participation, presented all the municipalities of the South Aegean, categorizing them into two groups: the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.
The students had the opportunity to explore:
-The municipalities of the South Aegean https://socialobservatory.pnai.gov.gr/en/municipalities/
-The Social Profile – (https://socialobservatory.pnai.gov.gr/)
-The Social Citizen Card – (https://socialobservatory.pnai.gov.gr/social-card/)
-The digital assistant – (https://socialobservatory.pnai.gov.gr/)
Subsequently, under the coordination of Sofia and Georgia Pelari, students were divided into three groups and participated in:
-Group mapping, identifying what they like about Syros and what they would like to change, focusing on three themes: recycling, sports facilities, and accessibility.
-Brainstorming, during which they proposed specific actions for improving everyday life on the island.
-Group presentations, placing special emphasis on issues related to the environment, accessibility, public spaces, and social cohesion.
The action concluded with an open discussion on the importance of youth participation in shaping policies and interventions, as well as the completion of an “ideas sheet,” where students recorded their messages and thoughts about their island.
Student participation was active and creative. The ideas that emerged focused on:
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Protection of the natural environment
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Enhancement of public spaces
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Improvement of accessibility
The proposals will be utilized by the Social Inclusion Observatory as part of its outreach activities and efforts to strengthen social awareness across the islands of the South Aegean.
The workshop served as a valuable opportunity for the students of Syros to express their ideas and contribute meaningfully to shaping a better future for their island. With the support of Crowdpolicy and the collaboration of the local community, the action fostered participation, social empathy, and awareness of the value of being an active citizen.
More: https://socialobservatory.pnai.gov.gr/
