Lisbon's Young Reporters: 80 Kids Embark on a Groundbreaking Project to Voice Their Neighborhood

80 students from Teixeira de Pascoais Elementary School are set to become reporters, uncovering stories, mapping out problems, and proposing solutions for Alvalade and Lisbon. This initiative, titled “I Live Here Too! Mini Neighborhood Reporters”, is a pilot project in collaboration with the school's Parents Association, under the Journalism Club extracurricular activity.

These young reporters, aged 8 to 10, will interview active city citizens, including urbanist João Seixas, Creole teacher Ana Josefa Cardoso, gardener Nuno Prates, and hip hop figure Nuno Varela. Their interviews, conducted with a fresh perspective, will be published, offering insights rarely heard.

The project aims to empower children to propose local improvements through a manifesto, a photography exhibition led by renowned photojournalist Mário Cruz, and a press conference. For the first time, Lisbon's City Council and Alvalade's Parish Council will sit down with children to discuss city matters.

Highlighting the importance of listening to children, the project references international examples where child-led initiatives have led to significant urban improvements, such as safer streets in Oslo and inclusive playgrounds in Germany.

This initiative not only teaches journalism skills but also sows the seeds for active citizenship, encouraging children to think critically about their environment and how to improve it.