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.