BUILT CoLAB: Green Lessons: Educational and Awareness Program for the Circular Economy

Challenge: Matosinhos: How to promote environmental education in marginalized communities?

Target Group: Families, Youth

Green Lessons is a digital education pilot based in Matosinhos that combines immersive 360-degree video, an interactive game platform, and an AI-powered assistant to teach school-aged children about the circular economy and sustainability. The pilot focused on five key themes: water, energy, waste, mobility, and circular economy principles. The objective was to engage students in an accessible, interactive learning experience that complements classroom education. Co-creation played a central role since teachers, students, and the Municipality of Matosinhos collaborated in developing scripts, participating in the video production process, and providing feedback on the gameplay and platform features. Demonstration sessions were held in both primary and secondary schools to test the game and collect insights directly from users. 46 individuals from the school community of a vulnerable area participated in the activities. As a result, the pilot delivered a functioning educational platform, an AI chatbot tailored to student needs, and a complete series of gamified sustainability lessons. Feedback from participants helped refine the final product to be both age-appropriate and engaging. Next steps may include scaling the platform to other schools or municipalities and expanding the educational content with new themes.