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Just like in<\/span> Trnava<\/span> and <\/span>Zvolen<\/span>, the Pontis Foundation has <\/span>started<\/span> its third Open Future center in <\/span>Pre\u0161ov<\/span>. The first official participants<\/span>, the <\/span>sixth-grade students<\/span>, <\/span>will join the program in the <\/span>up<\/span>coming weeks. For now, the center offers a preview experience, welcoming all children curious to explore <\/span>what\u2019s<\/span> behind its doors.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soon, dozens of children from Eastern Slovakia will have the opportunity to develop their talents, entrepreneurial spirit, soft and digital skills. <\/span><\/span>\u201cThis is a significant day for us at the Pontis Foundation and the Open Future team. Months of preparation have culminated in the opening of this new center at <\/span>Va\u017eeck\u00e1<\/span> Primary School, where children can <\/span>develop<\/span> their talents and broaden their horizons. Thanks to our partnership with the City of <\/span>Pre\u0161ov<\/span> and UNICEF, this is our third center in Slovakia<\/span>, together with the ones in <\/span>Trnava<\/span> and <\/span>Zvolen<\/span>. W<\/span>e hope to open even more soon,\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em> said Martina <\/span>Koles\u00e1rov\u00e1<\/span>, Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “In\u00a0a safe environment under the guidance of our coordinator Martina <\/span>Vangorov\u00e1<\/span>, <\/span>Pre\u0161ov\u2019s<\/span> middle<\/span> school students will meet inspiring figures from science, culture, and business. They will learn to use modern digital technologies and, most importantly, will have <\/span>a space<\/span> for self-expression. One of the program\u2019s goals is to improve<\/span> the<\/span> life<\/span> within the community. Through project-based learning, young participants will have the opportunity to design positive changes for their <\/span>surroundings<\/span>,\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em> added <\/span>M. <\/span>Koles\u00e1rov\u00e1<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Open Future<\/span> social innovation<\/span> aims to provide a safe after-school environment for children aged 11 to 15. It offers meaningful ways to spend <\/span>their <\/span>time while fostering collaboration and <\/span>personal growth<\/span>. The program features informal, innovative education with access to modern digital technologies. It includes visits to leading companies in Slovakia and lectures by inspiring figures from the business and tech sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the opening ceremony at the new centre, we welcomed the partners of Open future and other distinguished guests at a festive reception.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n A few weeks before the official opening<\/span>,<\/span> the program\u2019s local partners<\/span>, the <\/span>representatives<\/span> of the<\/span> city and<\/span> the<\/span> UNICEF<\/span> program <\/span>visited the center. They emphasized the importance of such <\/span>program<\/span> in enhancing access to quality informal education and reducing socio-economic disparities in society.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An after-school coworking club with IT equipment, a workshop “makerspace” and a relaxation zone is being created in the Va\u017eeck\u00e1 Primary School. “Project participants will have access to the centre 4 times a week. This space will include a 3-year innovative training focused on entrepreneurship and digital skills development. The youth will receive one-on-one mentoring from a variety of backgrounds, be it business, public administration or the third sector. At the same time, young people will be able to work on their own projects, mini start-ups of sorts, in which they will design solutions to problems in their community,” <\/em> said the mayor of Pre\u0161ov Franti\u0161ek O\u013eha.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation Martina Koles\u00e1rov\u00e1 signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the representatives of the city of Pre\u0161ov, Vice-Mayors Martin \u010euri\u0161in and Peter Kraj\u0148\u00e1k.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Vice-Mayor Peter Kraj\u0148\u00e1k confirmed that the opening of the centre fits into the vision of quality education in Pre\u0161ov: “We are glad that we were able to respond positively to the Pontis Foundation’s offer to set up such an educational centre. I want to thank them for it, we also take it as a challenge. We are bringing something innovative to \u0160v\u00e1by, the youngest housing estate in Pre\u0161ov, and we believe that the programme with a three-year cycle will be successful. It will bring new experiences to the children – from IT technologies to a lot of new knowledge, which they will use later in high school and in their future life.” <\/em><\/p>\n The Open Future program proved its value even during the pandemic years<\/span>. The coordinators saw a<\/span> strong need among children for a safe space to explore their potential and grow personally. The program continues to focus on fostering <\/span>the <\/span>skills<\/span> needed in the 21<\/span><\/span>st<\/span><\/span> century<\/span> and encouraging participants to make a positive impact on their communities. The <\/span>Pre\u0161ov<\/span> center is also open to Ukrainian children, who have <\/span>boarded the<\/span> Va\u017eeck\u00e1<\/span> Primary School <\/span>over the<\/span> recent years. Organizers prepared an informational poster in Ukrainian for them at the beginning of the school year.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buducnostinak.sk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pontis-98-1024x683.jpg\")
Modern education is also welcomed by the city, the town hall believes that such a programme is suitable for the developing housing estate<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buducnostinak.sk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pontis-74-1024x683.jpg\")
From Trnava to Pre\u0161ov, the programme is also open to children from Ukraine<\/h2>\n
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