Young people’s appropriations of life and education in the city

Abstract

It is in the city that one finds better and more diverse opportunities for acquiring knowledge, developing skills and experiencing significant interactions that enable the construction of identity and a sense of “belonging.�? As individuals and as part of groups, young people have their own ways of perceiving, living and imagining the city as a space of creation, conviviality and memory. In this paper, we will present and discuss data pertaining to the urban social and educational experiences of over 80 boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 17, from Porto (Portugal). We will discuss ways in which space and its fruition influence the construction of a sense of “community,�? as well as the meanings, manipulations and projects that young people allot to the city.