Children as social innovators – they identified problems in their surroundings and proposed their solutions

Open Future programme Expo event connected people from business and public administration with elementary school students who presented their projects.

At Open Future programme, we not only develop entrepreneurship, digital and soft skills in children, but we also lead them to notice their surroundings, think about the world differently, not be afraid to actively approach these situations and bring solutions to them.

The event called Open Future programme Expo created a space for children from Trnava and Zvolen centres to present such solutions.

Young people worked intensively on innovations during the school year and presented them at the event to the guests from business, public administration, programme partners, parents and the teaching staff.

Prevention of obesity and improvement of the waste separation system

Viki and Bibiána presented a dance workshop for kindergarteners to prevent obesity. An unexpected but positive reaction from the school was the offer to lead a dance club from the start of the next school year.

Michal and David focused on improving the waste separation system. They were inspired by automatic waste machines – according to them, separating containers (so-called separomats) should be able to identify waste and then sort it. They would place such facilities near homes and shopping centres.

Terka and Viktoria aimed their project at future high school students to help them in choosing a high school. They created a comic in which, through illustrated characters, they bring the possibilities of further study to graduating primary school students.

We are glad that among the guests of the event were also competent people from the City of Trnava, who offered the children a helping hand in the implementation of their projects.

Young people from Zvolen also contributed with their projects. Three friends Lucka, Dada and Linda perceive that we live in a very hurried and hectic time, full of hustle and often stressful moments. Their project not only brings caress to the soul, but also to people’s stomachs – the girls hand out muffins baked by themselves.

Martin, Michal and Matúš consider the state of toilets in schools to be a problem. It bothers them that they don’t have privacy on them, as other classmates often charge into the cabins, into which they sometimes throw various objects. The solution could be a special lock that only teachers could open in case of emergency. The boys would solve the problem of throwing objects into the cabin by placing plexiglass on the ceiling.

The problem of testing cosmetics on animals worries Alžbeta. She would like to talk more about it and draw attention not only to the painful process of testing, but also draw attention to brands that do not test cosmetics on animals. As Alžbetka wants to focus mainly on young people, she plans to set up a profile on Instagram, which she will use to raise awareness in this area.