Hacker Zone: Digital Justice Lab
The Local Challenge
In Nou Barris, one of Barcelona’s most diverse yet socioeconomically challenged districts, the digital divide is harsh. Thirty-two percent of households lack proper internet access, and almost half of young people have reported experiencing online risks. For many, digital tools are part of daily life, but the skills to navigate them critically, safely, and creatively are missing, especially among girls, LGTBIQ+ youth, migrant families, and others most excluded from decision-making in digital spaces. Without intervention, these gaps not only limit opportunities but also leave young people more vulnerable to misinformation, exploitation, and exclusion from democratic participation.
The Initiative
Hacker Zone turns Biblioteca Zona Nord into a vibrant digital justice lab where young people aged 12–16 don’t just consume technology, but also learn to question it, shape it, and share it with their community. The programme begins with weekly workshops where games, interactive tools, and lively discussions make complex topics such as privacy, fact-checking, and online safety engaging. In these sessions, young people identify the digital issues that matter most to them and co-design solutions, from creative awareness campaigns to practical verification tools.
Thorugh Hacker Zone, the library becomes a workshop buzzing with activity: screens glow with code, sketches turn into game designs, and conversations spark between peers experimenting with new ways to solve online challenges. Then, the work moves from the library to the streets at a public festival. Here, families, schools, neighbours, and local authorities gather to play the games, explore the tools, and join discussions sparked by the young creators. The event is equal parts showcase and celebration, where the community sees its youth not as passive users of technology, but as active shapers of it.
What’s Next?
By the project’s end, dozens of young people in Torre Baró will have the confidence to question the online world, the creativity to imagine alternatives, and the experience of turning ideas into tools that benefit others. The projects they create will remain as resources for the library and community, from educational games to campaigns that challenge misinformation.
The library will carry forward its expanded role as a hub for digital justice, with trained staff ready to run future workshops and support youth-led initiatives. Partnerships with schools, neighbourhood associations, and the City Council will help embed the programme into the local fabric, ensuring ongoing access and relevance. Over time, Hacker Zone will demonstrate that when young people are trusted with the tools to explore and create, they can lead the way towards a safer, fairer, and more inclusive digital future.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
