Creativity and innovation through EduSpace4School

Hi everyone, my name is Vincent and I ask you to join me in supporting EduSpace4School! It needs little support to kick off this innovative program and invest into the future of our children!

EduSpace4School is a nonprofit organization aiming at improving the education by offering a set of extracurricular educational activities to children aged 7 to 14 and by improving the learning environment at public elementary schools. EduSpace4School engages in this endeavor by:

• creating spaces for education to enhance skills in creative and innovative thinking, cooperation, communication and critical thinking;

• promoting 21st century learning approaches based on inquiry, projects, real-life experiences and play;

• creating a MakerSpace in public elementary schools partnering with EduSpace4School; and

• fostering civic engagement among students.

Unlike other providers of extracurricular educational activities, often for-profit and taking place in private premises, EduSpace4School is nonprofit and its essence is to offer activities in premises of public elementary schools. In doing this, it supports students and teachers of the school by making use of synergies. Students will benefit of a larger offer of extracurricular activities, while EduSpace4School could improve access to ICT equipment and tools at school, improve the learning environment, share creative ideas and know-how, and support students in community actions at school and beyond.

EduSpace4School consists of various spaces creating opportunities for students to learn, create, explore and engage:

MakerSpace foresees the transformation of a defined area at the public elementary school into a MakerSpace. Courses and activities in robotics, programming, physics and engineering based on LEGO Education and other technologies promote skills enhancement in STEM. Courses and activities in Expression (theatre, film-making and storytelling), as well as Art&Crafts enhance creativity and strengthen emotional intelligence and personal development. The schools benefit from the MakerSpace as these premises are used for curricular activities/class by the school during the day and teachers will have the right to use defined parts of the equipment in the room (e.g. smartboard, laptops, tablets).

ExplorerSpace foresees extracurricular activities in form of inquiry-based excursions. A students group shall inquiry a key question by an on-the-spot visit in an institution/company/organization where they can interact with experienced professionals. These excursions organized once or twice a month give students an insight in, for instance, police station, fire brigades, law firm/court room, factory, airport, international organization, home for blind people etc. with the aim to learn about their role, functioning and everyday life.

ChangerSpace is a support scheme to students in partnering schools of EduSpace4School to promote and enable students’ initiatives and community actions. ChangerSpace plans to offer free-of-charge basic courses for all interested students in project cycle management. This is followed by an actual call for students’ initiatives, a criteria-based selection of initiatives who will then be supported with guidance, advice, linkage to private sponsors and small material support by EduSpace4School. This will encourage students to volunteer and initiate, for example, a school newsletter, eco actions, civic and cultural actions, schoolyard renovations, school band etc.

EduSpace4School aims at establishing a financially viable and sustainable model to promote innovation, creativity and civic activism in public elementary schools in Skopje. In the first year, a pilot is conducted with two schools in the municipality of Kisela Voda. Thereafter we hope to expand our offer and expand to other schools and municipalities in order to scale up the impact.

The small EduSpace4School Team consists of highly committed and skilled people. The furniture and parts of the equipment for the MakerSpace could already be purchased. However, for an effective start we are still looking for financial support in order to cover the following costs:

- purchase of tablets

- full development of curricula

- educational material

- establishment of website

- social media marketing campaign

- promotional material

With roots and networks in Switzerland, Europe and US, I myself hope to mobilize as much support as possible to kick-off this innovative model aiming at making Macedonian youth fit for the future. Every donation is welcomed and over time will multiply its impact! Thank you!