Young people asked to use phone cameras to show what needs fixing in Riga
An initiative invites young people to photograph places in Riga they feel need improvement, giving their perspective a voice in discussions about the urban environment.
Young people are being given an unusual task: walk around their city with a phone in hand and photograph the places they believe need to be tidied up or improved. The idea starts from a simple question — what would you photograph first if asked to show the messy or important spots in your city, and why do those particular places matter to you?
Seeing the city through young eyes
The approach gathers young people's views on the urban environment using a tool they already know well — the smartphone camera. The resulting photographs show which places in Riga matter most to the younger generation, and why those specific spots were chosen.
Being asked to explain the reasoning behind each photo encourages participants not just to point out a problem, but to justify their choice — whether it relates to safety, appearance, everyday movement around the city, or leisure time.
Such a collection of photographs can serve as material for discussions on urban development, giving young people's voices a chance to be heard on issues that affect their daily lives directly — from squares and pavements to public transport stops and recreational areas.
The initiative highlights that urban space can be assessed from many different angles, and that a young person's perspective often reveals details adults might otherwise overlook.
