Etopia Zaragoza Art and Technology Center has been taken over by the youngest members of the household since the end of June. Throughout the summer they will pass through the colonies Etopia Kids 420 children, 60 per week, between 6 and 14 years old, divided into different workshops with themes focused on science, art and technology. All this from a playful point of view so that it awakens and feeds the imagination of the kids. The Councilor for Economy, Innovation and Employment of the Zaragoza City Council, Carmen Herrarte, visited the activities this morning and highlighted the importance of bringing these types of disciplines closer together from the earliest ages. “If Zaragoza wants to be a source of opportunities for the digital economy, this work of bringing the little ones closer to technology, science and the humanities is key because vocations will awaken in the future,” Herrarte specified.
In this meeting, in which she was accompanied by the managing director of the Zaragoza City of Knowledge Foundation, Daniel sarasa, and the head of the Professional Development Area of Fundación Ibercaja, Mayte santos, the counselor has checked what the kids work on specifically throughout the week. In this case, in addition to visiting the film workshops, 3d inventions and sound fiction, have also discovered how a minisatellite the size of a can, which has subsequently been launched into outer space to collect data that will later be analyzed. “These workshops are key, because we eliminate those barriers that we have of traditional purely theoretical education, the children enjoy learning, and from the beginning they are taught a way of seeing life in a multifaceted way ”, the counselor has valued.
Because the philosophy of Etopia children is the transmission of civic, ethical and social values through the different workshops. For this, during the colony teamwork, participation and co-creation are encouraged, the use of free and open source digital tools is prioritized, as well as stimulating reflection. Without forgetting the elimination of gender barriers in the scientific-technological field, favoring the participation of girls in the different spaces. Currently, the 33% of the participants are girls and it shows that every year more are interested in these disciplines.
In addition, the program also works for the inclusion and eradication of the digital divide in the city, for them they have 15% of the places in the neighborhood reserved for minors at risk of social exclusion. They are distributed in collaboration with the team of educators and social workers from public and private entities in Zaragoza.
The activities are being carried out under strict security and health measures to avoid contagion by covid. The workshops are divided into “Capsule groups” in which all activities are carried out independently, they have their recess hours, toilets, early risers and dining room. In addition, the monitors carry mask and screen protective and the participants are also wearing a mask. Each group has hydroalcoholic gel and has been incorporated the hand cleaning routine. Finally, all equipment and course materials are disinfected every time they are used.
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