Social Housing – CommuniCity

Junicoders – Empowering Communities through Digital Literacy and AI Awareness

Junicoders – Empowering Communities through Digital Literacy and AI Awareness

Challenge: Porto: How to enhance digital literacy?

Target Group: Individuals with no digital literacy; Social Housing Residents; children and youth

The Junicoders pilot tackled digital literacy for children aged 8 to 12 in vulnerable contexts in Porto. Through biweekly workshops using custom electronics kits, block-based coding, and robotics, students explored STEM in a hands-on way aligned with classroom topics. Teachers received tailored training, and co-creation sessions ensured curricular integration. Co-creation activities with Domus Social e Porto Digital involved approximately 60 individuals, of whom 45 were students. All content has been digitised and made available as open educational resources. The pilot resulted in increased digital confidence, creativity, and engagement. Students built simple projects like solar-powered fans or coded animations explaining science concepts. Teacher feedback directly influenced the final kit designs and content. The next phase includes introducing basic AI literacy, helping children understand intelligent systems playfully. The solution is ready for replication and will be further developed and expanded.

Multisensory rooms for psychiatric patients

Photo of Kelosound Oy - Sensory Engagement Program

Multisensory rooms for psychiatric patients

Challenge: Helsinki: How to ensure active engagement and mobility of patients?

Target Group: Psychiatric Patients

This pilot focused on creating multisensory, calming environments for the Aurora Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in the city of Helsinki, by integrating sound, light, and nature-based design. The main objective was to support the wellbeing of patients, particularly those from marginalised or vulnerable groups, by transforming two patient rooms into emotionally resonant, inclusive spaces.

The co-creation process involved multiple sessions with hospital staff, including nurses and doctors familiar with the needs of individuals with mental health conditions and cognitive impairments. Mood boards, color palettes, and spatial concepts were developed collaboratively and approved by the team before implementation. Approximately 70 individuals were involved, from which 50 are representatives of the marginalised groups. Stakeholders contributed valuable insights to ensure the solutions were functional, accessible, and aligned with therapeutic goals.

The final implementation includes immersive soundscapes, ambient lighting, and natural materials, all carefully selected to reduce stress and enhance comfort. Early feedback from staff and patients has been positive, indicating increased relaxation and a more welcoming atmosphere in the rooms.

Next steps include monitoring user experiences over time and offering the hospital a proposal to retain the installations permanently. If not continued, the systems will be dismantled in June 2025. The pilot demonstrates the impact of co-designed, sensory- based environments in mental health settings.

KU Leuven – Breaking Boundaries with Situated Surveys

Cross-Border Pilot with Prague

Challenge: How to engage the citizens in participatory planning?
Cross-Border Pilot with Porto and Amsterdam

KU Leuven – Breaking Boundaries with Situated Surveys

How to involve residents in urban decision-making and take their insights into account? With the fast development of European cities, which are becoming denser and more diverse, it is essential to engage citizens in how the city should grow. The Situated Surveys of KU Leuven gave us an answer by bringing a part of the urban planning process to the residents’ everyday-life. In Prague, Porto, and Amsterdam, the project’s Citizen Dialog Kit survey devices allow citizens to share their thoughts on a simple, immediate, and inclusive bottom-up urban planning approach. The easy-to-use devices are distributed in public places and gather real-time feedback from the participants. This solution addresses contextual and social challenges, improving the quality and sustainability of city decision-making and overall fostering a more satisfied and inclusive European community.

Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research – Porto Sense

Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research – Porto Sense

Challenge: How to improve the thermal comfort and overall health in residential buildings?

Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research – Porto Sense

Household environment profoundly impacts human health. PortoSense aims to improve thermal comfort and the overall health quality within residential spaces. The proposal intends to develop a user-friendly tool that offers residents in-depth knowledge of homes’ environmental conditions and crucial data about their living spaces in an accessible manner, and to combine a human-centred design and co-design sessions to prototype a digital recommendation system to passively enhance living conditions.

The proposal includes a collaboration with residents in urban rehabilitation areas, conducting focus groups to identify needs, evaluate sensing systems, and empower users with best practices. Summing up, PortoSense is developing a digital solution that not only monitors living conditions but empowers users with clear data for effective action. In an sustainability-driven age, this pilot aims for life improvements without the complexities of major renovations.