Children created the Espoo of the future in a computer game
Schoolchildren built Espoo as they would like to see it in the game Minecraft. Builders of a Sustainable Future was a competition for all pupils in Espoo's comprehensive schools.
The Builders of a Sustainable Future competition offered children and young people a fun way to combine gaming, creativity and learning.
The familiar Minecraft blocks can be used for all kinds of creations, from new parks and schools to energy-efficient houses and traffic solutions. The pupils’ views and ideas brought fresh perspectives to urban planning.
“The competition showed children that their ideas matter,” says Minna Kukkonen, Pedagogical ICT Expert.
Computer game as a platform for creativity
In the Builders of a Sustainable Future competition, students formed teams or pairs and built their own sustainable Espoo in a safe Minecraft Education environment.
The play mode was Creative, which means that the players had an empty platform to freely implement ideas and construction.
“First, the pupils thought about sustainable development goals, and then they moved on to thinking about how these goals could be reflected in their living environment. The ideas were then transferred to the Minecraft world,” Kukkonen explains.
As many as 64 schools and more than 1,300 pupils entered the competition. The pupils worked on their competition entries at school during certain lessons where possible, but also in their free time in clubs and at home.
Winners featured on the big screen
The plans implemented in Minecraft were based on the sustainable development goals included in the curriculum and the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.
“The competition had four categories aimed at different grade levels, and each category had age-appropriate sustainable development goals based on the curriculum,” Kukkonen tells us.
All participants received certificates. The winners were announced at a spectacular awards gala at Kino Tapiola, which was attended by the Mayor.
The competition jury consisted of gaming professionals and city representatives from different sectors. The winning entries were presented to the public through Espoo’s communication channels.. Read more about The Builders of a Sustainable Future competition's winners.
Text: Susanna Cygnel
This article was originally published in the Espoo-lehti magazine 3/2025. Read other Espoo-lehti articles.