An Approach to Participatory Research
After extensive planning and preparation, the day had finally arrived: on Saturday, 30 May 2026, the Road Safety Day in Homburg took place, and the “saarmila-wohnizmmer” moved out onto the streets.
At four interactive stations, families with children as well as other interested visitors were invited to share their experiences of mobility. The discussions focused particularly on journeys to kindergarten and school. The teams from Saarmila, BIN Saar, and fugeefilms, who had joined forces for this project, were delighted by the strong public interest.
Under bright sunshine and over a glass of lemonade, visitors compared memories of their own childhood school journeys with the experiences children face today. Children were encouraged to draw their routes to school or kindergarten or to recreate their experiences in public spaces through short stop-motion films in a creative “trick box.” Those looking for a more hands-on experience could test a selection of mobility aids and vehicles from a small fleet. Even travelling in a straight line along the pavement proved challenging, as its slight slope made maneuvering a rollator surprisingly difficult.
Visitors to the “saarmila-wohnizmmer” who wished to do so were also invited to share their perspectives in front of a camera. Among the guests was Saarland’s Minister for Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Petra Berg. She joined local families at the discussion table to talk about their perceptions of school journeys and mobility challenges.
At the end of a day filled with engaging conversations and valuable exchanges, the project team was delighted by the enthusiasm shown by so many people to participate in discussions about mobility and the routes children take to school and kindergarten. Through their contributions, participants became co-researchers in the ongoing process of transformation toward more sustainable mobility.
The analysis of the insights and information gathered during the event will keep the project team busy for some time to come. Saarmila looks forward to continuing this dialogue with citizens across Saarland on a variety of topics and occasions. Together with local communities, the project aims to further explore and shape pathways toward a more sustainable and accessible mobility future for the region.
