How we do it: Case Study

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The GeoLingo Experiment

Fostering Cross-Cultural Connections and Community Wellbeing through Placemaking

Tauma Lobacheva and Denise Bijoux

This case study explores the GeoLingo Experiment, a grassroots initiative designed to foster meaningful connections between individuals and cultures, promotes linguistic heritage, enhances a sense of belonging, and contributes to community wellbeing.
The experiment was launched in Aotearoa New Zealand, and provides a low-cost, accessible way for diverse communities to connect, see themselves in the landscape and feel more ‘at home’ through painted rocks inscribed with words from various languages.

Background

As globalisation and migration increase cultural diversity in communities, initiatives like GeoLingo are essential tools for fostering inclusive environments. Placemaking, the practice of transforming public spaces to encourage social interaction and wellbeing, has proven particularly effective in such efforts (Project for Public Spaces, 2009). GeoLingo emerged as a low-budget form of placemaking that could easily be implemented in communities, relying on simple materials (rocks, paint and pens) and creativity.

The project's premise is that people feel more comfortable in a place when they can see themselves in that place. When people can see themselves in public spaces and feel comfortable, they are then more likely to contribute to and care for these shared spaces.

GeoLingo is a method for accomplishing these outcomes by inviting participants to paint words or phrases from their native languages on rocks and translate them to a shared language (English in Aotearoa). The rocks are then placed in public spaces, such as parks or footpaths, for others to find. The project encourages cultural exchange, invites curiosity, and provides a sense of connection to both Third Culture individuals (those navigating multiple cultural identities) and the wider community.

Objectives

To improve a sense of belonging for individuals new to a place, especially those from diverse cultural backgrounds, through language and public art.
To highlight linguistic diversity, with a focus on both local and minority languages (e.g., Te Reo Māori).
To enhance wellbeing by encouraging participation in creative and mindful activities.
To engage communities in low-cost, sustainable placemaking efforts and cultivate a culture of local placemaking.

Findings

1. Cultural Exchange and Preservation

One of the primary outcomes of the GeoLingo Experiment is its role in promoting linguistic diversity and cultural exchange.

GeoLingo offers a safe platform for non-native speakers to engage with and learn new words, which in turn promotes cultural understanding and empathy. This aligns with research that shows the public display of minority languages helps to normalise their use and contributes to their preservation (Harris, 2018).

In the Kingsland and Morningside businesses communities during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), rocks inscribed with words in te reo Māori sparked discussions about the importance of the language, efforts to revitalise it and the use of te reo in everyday contexts. Locals and newcomers to Aotearoa alike participated in these conversations, expressing pride in seeing the language gifted and displayed in a beautiful way as well as fascination with the language and a desire to learn more. GeoLingo in these communities thus served as a low-cost but highly effective means of facilitating intercultural dialogue, fostering te reo Māori as a key aspect of Aotearoa’s cultural identity and contributing to the goals of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (NZ History, 2024).

2. Sense of Belonging

Another significant outcome is the way GeoLingo can foster feelings of belonging. Language is a cultural icon, and simply seeing your mother tongue in public places helps people feel more accepted and at home.

An earlier Te Wiki o te Reo Māori GeoLingo project proved particularly impactful for Third Culture Kids (TCKs), who often navigate multiple cultural identities and may feel disconnected from both their heritage culture and the dominant culture of their current environment. In school holiday workshops at Mairangi Arts Centre, many initially approached the rock painting activity as a typical school task, focusing on English and te reo Māori as instructed. The atmosphere changed dramatically from formality to excitement when the children were encouraged to share words from their heritage languages, however. Words in Korean, Polish, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian, Mandarin, and other languages were exchanged, sparking animated conversations and storytelling- a vibrant cultural exchange!

Using GeoLingo as a bridge, the TCKs embraced and expressed their full selves without feeling the need to compartmentalise their identities, or leave their heritage behind in order to "fit in”. GeoLingo helped them see how their cultural background not only has value but also enriches the entire group, fostering inclusion, a sense of belonging, reducing feelings of isolation and helping strengthen community cohesion. This echoes findings by Berry (2005).

Our experiences with adults echoed similar results. Many reported that tensions eased as they grew more excited to exchange their cultural knowledge. This openness fostered deeper interest in and appreciation for each other’s cultures. By providing a space where both children and adults could share their linguistic and cultural heritage, GeoLingo consistently facilitated a reduction in cultural barriers and a stronger sense of community for participants of all ages.

3. Wellbeing Impact

The creative and interactive nature of GeoLingo brings notable benefits to both individual and community wellbeing. Once people overcome their sometimes initial reluctance to play and create, participants report that both painting the rocks and discovering them in public spaces sparked feelings of joy, curiosity, playfulness and inclusion. Studies support the idea that cultural participation and creative activities help reduce stress and enhance mental health by fostering positive emotions (Cohen et al., 2006).

For example, one older participant from Mairangi Bay shared how seeing the painted rocks during her daily walk eased her loneliness, as they reminded her of playfulness and the presence of a kids around and caring community. Living alone, she found comfort in these small signs of connection.

Another participant, who joined a GeoLingo session on an inner city street, described how painting rocks helped him feel more grounded during a difficult period in his life. He expressed that the simple act of contributing to something meaningful provided him with renewed energy and a sense of purpose, helping him get through the day.

Anthropologists have long recognised that rocks have been used as cultural symbols for thousands of years and are believed to carry inherent energy, offering a sense of grounding and connection. By encouraging people to engage with something so simple yet meaningful, GeoLingo helps foster safe and friendly neighbourhoods, including for those who might not typically engage in community projects. Though small, the acts of painting, gifting and finding painted rocks in public spaces can be significant, with participants strengthening their ties to the places they inhabit and reducing feelings of loneliness.

4. Placemaking and Public Spaces

GeoLingo’s low-cost, easy-to-do method shows that small-scale initiatives can make a significant impact, along the lines of Project of Public Space’s Lighter Quicker Cheaper approach. GeoLingo empowers individuals and communities alike - including those in multicultural and low-resource settings - by enabling anyone to be involved in actively transforming parks, walkways, and other communal spaces into areas of cultural interaction and learning.

GeoLingo also fosters a sense of ownership among participants, allowing them to feel a greater sense of agency, pride and belonging in their environment. Through this simple yet powerful tool, individuals share some of what matters to them, creating vibrant, inclusive public spaces, strengthening social cohesion and creating a sense of shared responsibility for their communal areas.

Discussion

The GeoLingo Experiment shows that people feel more comfortable in a place when they can see themselves in that place. When people can see themselves in public spaces and feel comfortable, they are then more likely to contribute to and care for these shared spaces.

GeoLingo raises intriguing questions about the value of small-scale placemaking and how placemaking remains centred on the people it serves. GeoLingo’s simple approach shows that small, creative acts can have a profound impact on how people see themselves within a space and how they experience that space. It also prompts curiosity about whether this kind of engagement can be sustained long-term or if novelty plays a role in its effectiveness.

Another compelling consideration is the role of budget. GeoLingo poses the question: Can meaningful community change be achieved without large-scale resources? While the experiment clearly illustrates the potential of low-cost initiatives, it also opens the door to discussions about scalability. How can communities embrace similarly accessible projects without being constrained by financial limitations? And how do these smaller efforts compare to larger, resource-intensive placemaking initiatives in terms of longevity and community impact?

Additionally, the experiment sparks questions about fostering a deeper sense of belonging. How do we create lasting bonds within communities through simple acts of cultural exchange? GeoLingo's ability to draw out stories, languages, and cultural pride from participants suggests that it taps into something essential about human connection. But it also leaves room for exploring how this newfound sense of belonging can be sustained and built upon beyond the initial project.

Finally, the use of unconventional, creative methods such as painted rocks invites the question: Why do we hesitate to embrace such simple, yet effective, approaches? GeoLingo shows the power of having fun, but it also highlights how often communities may be hesitant to take these kinds of risks. Moving forward, it will be interesting to explore how we can encourage broader acceptance of low-cost, creative and playful methods in placemaking.

Conclusions

The GeoLingo Experiment demonstrates how low-cost, creative placemaking can effectively foster inter-cultural connections, inclusion, and a sense of belonging within communities. It encourages reflection on how fun people-centred initiatives can be sustained and scaled without large budgets, while promoting the use of unconventional creative methods. GeoLingo’s success in sparking cultural dialogue highlights the importance of intercultural exchange in strengthening community ties. Although the project’s long-term impact remains an area for exploration, it underscores the transformative power of simple actions in creating vibrant, inclusive public spaces that bring diverse communities together.

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