New approach: messaging platforms as workshop space
In this workshop, NSKB tested a messaging-based format using the Signal app, chosen due to youth protection considerations. As the digital workshop #6 from JES, we wanted to try a digital messaging group as a way into the topic, instead of Zoom. The digital channel functioned alongside Camp Physical, the last of the three Camps, allowing participants to share observations, images and reflections in real time.
Rather than scheduled meetings, the workshop unfolded over several days, with participants contributing during walks, city exploration and shared activities. The most active day was the Sunday, as we used the platform in context of our individual walks around city spaces.
Content and activities
Participants were encouraged to:
- share images of places and details that caught their attention
- reflect on urban spaces, comfort, accessibility and belonging
- respond to prompts connected to parks, public spaces and movement through the city
On the final day, digital sharing was combined with physical group activities, creating a layered experience where reflection moved fluidly between online and offline space.
Reflection
This format proved effective as a low-intensity, low-threshold method for engagement. While not suitable as a standalone format, it worked well as an addition to physical encounters. The experience highlighted the importance of carefully balancing digital demands and confirmed the potential of short, informal digital interactions when used consciously.
One of the things we experienced during the later digital workshops was that, even when the content was strong, it became increasingly difficult to engage young people in online Zoom meetings. While this was partly due to their busy schedules, it also felt as though repeated online meetings caused a sense of wear and tear within the group. This was one of the reasons we chose to experiment with merging digital elements into physical encounters.
We found that this approach worked very well, but it also made clear that the amount of digital activity requested needs to be considered carefully. Short, immediate digital interactions can be useful when applied thoughtfully. We are glad to have tested this format, as it appears to be a method we could confidently use in future projects.
Key learnings across the digital workshops
Across the workshops, several insights emerged:
- Digital formats work best when they are simple, focused and clearly structured
- Shared creation is more engaging than discussion-based formats
- Digital spaces can function as third places when they build on existing trust
- Messaging platforms can support reflection without replacing physical encounters
The digital workshops contributed to the project’s broader exploration of how involvement can be sustained over time and across geography — not through constant activity, but through thoughtful, well-timed digital presence.