Over the past year, Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia together with Riga Technical University and Cyprus Technical University brought together students, NGOs, community leaders, social entrepreneurs, and researchers to explore some of today’s most pressing societal challenges through the Citizen Science approach. By engaging people from diverse backgrounds in dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, the project ValuEU “Hybrid Value Chain enhancement in Europe through Citizen” aimed to co-create practical solutions, empower communities to take action, as well as to test the Citizen Science approach. 

Citizen Lab Workshops: Five Themes, Five Perspectives

There were five Citizen Lab workshops hosted, each dedicated to a theme relevant both locally and globally:

• Mental Health Awareness and Burnout Risks: Participants discussed how healthy routines, digital balance, and people-centred organisational cultures are key to preventing burnout and promoting wellbeing.
• Safety and Protection in Times of Geopolitical Instability: Discussions highlighted the need for trusted local networks, practical guidelines, and active involvement of schools, NGOs, and municipalities.
• Social Economy: The workshop focused on possibilities of rebranding the social economy as innovative and financially viable, while strengthening collaboration between NGOs, academia, enterprises, and policymakers.
• Digital Fairness: Cyber Risks, AI, and Social Justice: Participants explored how accessible tools, education, and cross-sector collaboration can make the digital transition safer and more inclusive.
• Sustainable Future: Innovative Solutions for Everyday Change: The final workshop emphasised everyday behaviour change, waste reduction, and grassroots initiatives as key drivers of a just green transition.

Each session followed a structured methodology of Action Design research (ADR) method: issue exploration, lived experiences, Disney method – dreamers, critics, realists, and collaborative design thinking. This approach not only allowed participants to analyse problems from multiple angles but also encouraged them to propose actionable solutions.

Key Learnings

Through the workshops, several cross-cutting lessons emerged:

• Complex challenges require diverse perspectives – bringing together civil society, academia, public institutions, and citizens led to richer discussions and more innovative solutions.
• People engage when they see real impact – participation grows when individuals understand how their voices contribute to practical outcomes.
• Safe, inclusive spaces matter – a constructive environment encourages participants to share personal experiences and propose bold ideas.
• Solutions need a pathway forward – beyond discussion, participants want clear next steps and opportunities to continue their involvement.

Final Symposium: Sharing Results and Looking Ahead

The project culminated in a final symposium that took place on August 28, 2025 and gathered stakeholders, policymakers, and community representatives to reflect on results and lessons learned.

• The event opened with Imants Lipskis, Director of the Labor Market Policy Department at the Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia, who presented Latvia’s Social Economy Action Plan and its vision for strengthening the ecosystem.
• The representatives from the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia and Cyprus Technical University shared insights on the implementation of the Citizen Science approach and lessons learned from the workshops.
• An interactive panel discussion brought together experts and practitioners to discuss the applicability of citizen science in different contexts, the value of participatory methodologies, and the usability of the results for future policy and community actions.

Why It Matters

For the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (SEAL) and social economy field in general, the project demonstrated how citizen science can be a powerful tool for tackling complex social problems. Top-down solutions alone are not enough – real change requires collaboration, trust-building, and ownership by citizens themselves.

The ValuEU project has shown that when communities, NGOs, policymakers, and academics come together, they can co-create solutions that are both innovative and sustainable. From rethinking workplace wellbeing to designing fairer digital tools and promoting everyday sustainability practices, the outcomes of this initiative highlight the potential of participatory approaches in driving social innovation.

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The project ValuEU “Hybrid Value Chain enhancement in Europe through Citizen” is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The State Education Development Agency (hereinafter – VIAA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority (VIAA) can be held responsible for them.