HUP Hackathon – ENG – Eduquest

EduQuest brings innovative heritage tools from Slovenia to Naoussa

eduquest — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:28:15 +0000

A simple strawberry can instantly transport us back to our childhood, evoking powerful feelings of home, identity, and belonging. This profound connection between human emotion and the past is at the heart of a new effort to bring the youth of Naoussa closer to their local history. Recently, the EduQuest team traveled to Šentjur, Slovenia, to join partners from five countries for the first in-person gathering of the HUP Hackathon, a pan-European initiative designed to transform how young people experience cultural heritage.

In smaller, rural communities with rich histories, there is a growing challenge: younger generations often feel disconnected from their local heritage, viewing it as a collection of static facts rather than a living part of their identity. This disconnection contributes to the broader exodus of youth from provincial towns. To address this, the HUP Hackathon initiative brings together seven partner organizations from Greece, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal to co-design new, deeply human-centered solutions.

During the two-day gathering in Slovenia, the EduQuest team participated in intensive training on Value-Based Heritage Interpretation and the Designathon method. These creative approaches shift the focus away from simply memorizing historical dates. Instead, they ask how historical spaces and artifacts can speak directly to a young person’s core values and modern life. By learning to interpret history through the lens of shared human experiences, the team explored how to make local heritage sites feel relevant, engaging, and emotionally powerful for the next generation.

EduQuest is now working to adapt these innovative tools for the local community in Naoussa. By providing educators, youth workers, and local cultural sites with these new methodologies, the goal is to create interactive and deeply personal experiences for the youth of the region. We believe that when young people discover the living magic in their own roots, they build a stronger foundation for their future and help our entire community thrive.

Naoussa’s heritage in the hands of teenagers: A new international partnership to revitalize our cultural legacy

eduquest — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:12:31 +0000

NAOUSSA, GREECE – At the historic sites of the School of Aristotle and among the resting machinery of the Naoussa Industrial Heritage Centre, our local history is preparing to “speak” a new language. While these sites are the heart of our identity, many young people today feel disconnected from them. EduQuest, based in the Heroic City of Naoussa, is launching the HUP Hackathon (Heritage Understanding & Participation), a 24-month initiative that aims to turn teenagers from simple visitors into creators of their own history.

Through intensive “design sprints” (hackathons), teenagers aged 10-16 will work alongside experts to discover the emotional stories hidden behind our monuments. Using simple digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI), these young people will visualize their own ideas, proving that tradition can be both modern and deeply personal.

This effort is the result of a broad European collaboration, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Coordinated by the Designathon Works Foundation (Netherlands), EduQuest leads the implementation in Greece in close collaboration with the Municipality of Naoussa, working with partners from Slovenia (Razvojna Agencija Kozjansko), Belgium (Change Of Course and Stad Kortrijk), Portugal (Fundação EDP), and the Netherlands (Stichting Het Nieuwe Instituut). Strategic guidance is also provided by Interpret Europe (Germany) and Grand-Expo (Ukraine).

This initiative seeks to leave a meaningful footprint in our city. Through their participation, Naoussa’s teenagers will gain valuable digital skills and a new creative confidence, building a stronger connection with their local community. Meanwhile, the professionals at our cultural sites will be trained in modern participatory methods, ensuring our museums remain vibrant and attractive to future generations. This work will lead to the creation of innovative applications and activities that bring our history to life in new ways. The knowledge produced here will be shared worldwide through open guides and educational videos, establishing Naoussa as a reference point for heritage revitalization in the digital age.

Coming soon

eduquest — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:26:00 +0000

Stay tuned, new are on the way!