How can we make STEM education engaging, meaningful, and socially impactful? The
EUthMappers project, supported by the Erasmus+ programme, brings collaborative
mapping into European secondary schools, turning classrooms into hubs for
environmental and civic action.
Now in its fourth phase, launched on April 1st, 2025, students are participating
in a real humanitarian mapping project in collaboration with UN Mappers. Their
task? To map building footprints in Kandahar, Afghanistan, using the
OpenStreetMap platform. The data will contribute to building a 3D digital
replica of the city—a vital tool that allows UN peacekeepers to remotely explore
inaccessible areas, simulate field scenarios, and perform operational planning
within a shared sandbox environment. A hands-on way to apply skills with a
real-world impact.
Students are also engaged in training activities, interactive quizzes, and
geospatial challenges using tools specifically developed for the project, such
as iDSandbox4ALL, iD4ALL, and 3D visualization platforms. All materials and
tutorials are available on the EUthMappers YouTube channel.
Last year, five schools designed and implemented their own local mapping
projects, showcasing the potential of open mapping in education—summarized in
this student-led video. Building on that success, this year’s webinar “How to
Work Together – The Value of Collaborative Work” brought students together
across Europe to explore teamwork, group roles, collaborative planning, and the
role of digital tools in addressing urban and environmental challenges.
In a world facing complex global issues, teaching students to collaborate and
use innovative digital tools for territorial data collection and analysis is an
invaluable opportunity. EUthMappers shows how education can be a driver of
international change—powered by students.EUthMappers è la dimostrazione che la
scuola può diventare motore di cambiamento, anche a livello internazionale.
L'articolo Students as agents of change: mapping the world with EUthMappers to
create social impact proviene da DICA - Polimi.
