Amman students use Minecraft to redesign their city

The 10-week challenge will bridge learning and real-world urban planning. Selected proposals will be shared with the Greater Amman Municipality to help inform the city’s wider urban planning process, and the challenge will culminate in an awards ceremony and workshop later in the year, bringing students and city leaders together to explore how ideas by the youth can be integrated into ongoing planning efforts. 

“Amman is the city of seven hills, a city that grows every day with dreams and ideas,” said Dr Yousef Al Shawarbeh, mayor of Amman at the launch of the challenge.

“This initiative in Amman shows how digital innovation and game-based learning can bridge the gap between young people and real-world urban planning”

“I am pleased to invite you to take part in a unique challenge: the Schools Reinventing Cities competition, in collaboration with C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, using the Minecraft Education platform. This is an opportunity to design your own version of Amman within the world of Minecraft and to turn your ideas into a digital model that reflects a vision for a more sustainable and innovative city.”

Hélène Chartier, director of Urban Planning and Design at C40 Cities, added: “Through Schools Reinventing Cities, we bring students closer to city planning processes, empowering the next generation to think critically about their city and design the green, thriving, and inclusive neighbourhoods they want to live in. This initiative in Amman shows how digital innovation and game-based learning can bridge the gap between young people and real-world urban planning.”

The Jameel C40 Urban Planning Climate Labs provides hands-on support to help cities embed climate action directly into real urban planning strategies. Established by C40 and Community Jameel in 2024, the labs pilot this approach in Amman and Chennai, India, with a view to developing practical methods that other cities can adapt.