(P) Youth Innovation Hub in Bucharest - A place to build the future of children
The good of children can be approached with a business perspective and so it should, says a foundation that has been working with this goal (children`s rights) for the past 30 years. Of course, with the ``profit`` being the good of a…
The good of children can be approached with a business perspective and so it should, says a foundation that has been working with this goal (children`s rights) for the past 30 years. Of course, with the ``profit`` being the good of a greater number of children and youth.
Terre des Hommes Foundation has set in mind to create a Youth Innovation Hub in Bucharest, an innovative child-centered space that promotes creativity and builds the entrepreneurial skills of children and young people.
The hub will offer classes (using the Tdh expertise of its professionals) to vulnerable children, but also to their parents while inviting businesses to buy trainings for their employees or parents and private schools to improve their knowledge regarding children and their protection. This is an ideal example of a pragmatic approach (self-sustainable space) with a noble goal.
What made Terre des Hommes choose to create this kind of space?
For the children in Romania, the COVID-19 health crisis was and is accompanied by an educational crisis. Besides the lack of resources in schools, children from vulnerable and marginalized communities were not able to attend schools for a long period. This leads to gaps in education, in the development of social skills and is a risk for their mental health. With an innovative child-centered space, Tdh is creating a hub that will empower children and youth to continue and improve their education and choose a profession that suits them.
What will children learn in the Hub?
In the Youth Innovation Hub, various groups of children and young people such as those with vulnerable backgrounds, children in conflict with the law, or affected by migration will be able to meet and build life and professional skills. They will explore their creativity and learn to create and design their own 3D virtual models, which will help them to be better prepared for the current and future requirements of jobs and the whole of society, which cannot be conceived without digitalization.
Children and young people will also be able to participate in thematic workshops focused on raising their awareness and strengthening their knowledge on gender-based violence, participation in decision-making, and child safety in sport. In this space, they will express freely their feelings, thoughts, and opinions. This work will be done with the support of peer groups, local organizations, private companies, and entrepreneurs that help them build confidence, discover their talents, as well as improve social and technical skills.
