My Generation shows Europe co creation

Co-creation is based on the idea that everyone can contribute, everyone counts and has unique qualities that can contribute to the quality of an idea or project. Co-creation gives everyone that is willing to take responsibility, a voice. The effect of co-creation is that everyone gets a voice and has the feeling to have contributed to the final idea. After this, the step to implementation is easy; there is less resistance because everyone has had the chance to contribute.

Before starting the workshop, My Generation expert Eddy Adams gave an introduction on My Generation and the idea behind the workshop. Once started, the moderator Karim Erja, gave some examples of co creation. Since the workshop was on co creation, the participants quickly had to start co creating themselves. In total, there were three co creation group-sessions.

During the first session, the participants had to act as a typical big-city council and together decide on the most urgent social problem to be addressed. The main point of this session was to be aware of the most important values of co creation: seeing, reflecting and connecting. After having plenary shared their experiences, the participants switched table to start the second session.

The second session focussed on event organisation. The participants were to organise an event to address the problem chosen by the group on that table during the first session. At the end of the second session all groups had come up with names and descriptions of their events. A good example of the creative work was an event to tackle the unemployment issues, being a city theatre tour, co-created with unemployed people, called “Les Desirables”.

After this session, the group-ideas were presented to the whole group and the process of co-creation itself was discussed.

After the workshop, the participants were inspired to start co creating themselves in their own projects and cities.

To find out more about co creation please have a look at the Download My Generation - Presentation URBACT annual conference Fringe workshop on co creation (3.17 MB)

For pictures of the workshop go to the My Generation Flickr account