The publication sets out the methodology, values and impact of an initiative that strengthens the social participation of young people from the outskirts
Campinas, SP – Casa Hacker officially announces the launch of the Social Technology Manual – Youth Forum, a first-of-its-kind publication that systematises the practices, lessons and results of the project that directly involved young leaders from peripheral territories. The launch marks a new moment for social organisations, educators and public policies wishing to replicate initiatives of social participation and youth engagement in peripheral territories.
The fruit of a collaborative process led by Casa Hacker and by the project’s Young Leaders Committee, with social investment from Fundação FEAC, the manual presents a social technology geared towards the civic participation of young people, built on active listening, network organising and participatory methodologies. It not only documents the work of the Youth Forum but also serves as a practical tool to inspire and guide the creation of new experiences that engage young people and territories on the outskirts in social participation.
Organised into thematic blocks, the manual runs from the theoretical foundations of social technology through to the practical detail of implementing the Youth Forum. Highlights include:
- Introduction to the proposal and thematic glossary;
- Foundations of social technology applied to territories;
- Values and structure of the project, with young people’s agency at the centre;
- Participatory assessment and reading of the context;
- Detailed methodology with phases, tools and timeline;
- Outputs produced: platforms, forums, training courses, podcasts and grants;
- Monitoring and evaluation with impact indicators;
- Pathways for replication in other regions.
Drawing on real indicators and concrete examples of young leadership being strengthened, the manual demonstrates the effectiveness of the approach and offers accessible guidelines for its replication by public managers, collectives, organisations and educators.
“The Youth Forum made me understand that no transformation comes from above. It is born from below, from encounters, from affection and from radical listening. It is born when we trust that young people know what they are doing, that they have answers, but also questions that need to be taken seriously. May we keep building a present in which diverse young people are recognised not as the target of policies, but as their authors.” — Young participant in the project
The launch of the manual reinforces Casa Hacker’s commitment to promoting accessible social technologies and to strengthening democracy through young people. Download the Social Technology Manual.
Credits
Publication and authorship: Associação Casa Hacker
Editorial coordination: Débora Cristina da Paz Leão
Writing: Layne Gabriele da Silva
Layout: Victor Roberto Coelho dos Santos
Collaboration: Young Leaders Committee of the Youth Forum project, 2024
About Casa Hacker
Casa Hacker is a non-profit organisation, founded and led by people from peripheral territories, working in São Paulo, Campinas and Rio de Janeiro. We work to make technology and social innovation accessible to everyone, through STEAM education and the training of leaders with social and environmental impact. We believe in education as a tool of transformation and in young people as a central force in building a fairer, more sustainable future.