Food Playground
Basic information
Project Title
Food Playground
Full project title
Future Food for Kids - Food Playground
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
Rasa (10 y.o.) and Amelia (12 y. o.) decided to take action and solve the actual problem themselves - improve children's eating experience at school. Girls identified problems: long waiting lines, food & water waste, too little time to eat and enjoy break. During research children realised, that the size of the food itself makes all the difference. Because smaller food you eat faster and more time is left to play. Basted on this idea, girls decided to create their own future food for kids!
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Kids did research at a public school and therefore plan to develop their project to make a substantial impact within their community.
School - Vilnius Petras Vileišis pro gymnasium,
Filaretų g. 3, 01207 Vilnius, Lithuania
, Lithuania
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
This project aims to draw public attention to children as full participants in society. Highlight their ability to imagine the future and create it! With the support of society, the involvement of business and scientific representatives, we can create sustainable foundations for the future leaders.
The future food concept created by children surprises science and creates a close bond. In order to implement the idea, there is a continuous dialogue between scientists and children, research and creativity. This unlocks untold exploration of the world of the future!
The future food concept created by children surprises science and creates a close bond. In order to implement the idea, there is a continuous dialogue between scientists and children, research and creativity. This unlocks untold exploration of the world of the future!
Key objectives for sustainability
This project creates solutions in education - the shortage of teachers and the representation of science and technology in the everyday context. It encourages interest in health, food and food culture from an early age. Empowering young people to become active participants in society and make their own decisions about their future and act accordingly!
The main goals of the project are to create future food that is less wasted, more nutritious, and to create more sustainable food preparation processes that contribute to the conservation of the planet's resources.
The fact that the idea of future food is presented to children from the simplest connection - "Why do we eat and how does it affect our body?" gives everyone a chance to understand and appriciate the food because that keeps us alive.
The main goals of the project are to create future food that is less wasted, more nutritious, and to create more sustainable food preparation processes that contribute to the conservation of the planet's resources.
The fact that the idea of future food is presented to children from the simplest connection - "Why do we eat and how does it affect our body?" gives everyone a chance to understand and appriciate the food because that keeps us alive.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
In this Future Food project, aesthetics and the quality of people's experiences at school come together.
The children, solving a relevant topic for themselves, came up with a unique solution - to reduce the size of food and change its shape and color, to create a different eating experience that would improve the eating experience at school.
This is an example of how critical thinking and deign thinking methodology can unlock design solutions that shake up a number of other established dogmas.
Changing the shape, color, taste, smell, and texture of food is a huge challenge for food technologists, because every moving brick destroys the rules that have been established so far, so there is continuous creativity and experiments. This creates the dependence of science and children's creativity on each other, you want to implement and discover new eating and food solutions.
The children, solving a relevant topic for themselves, came up with a unique solution - to reduce the size of food and change its shape and color, to create a different eating experience that would improve the eating experience at school.
This is an example of how critical thinking and deign thinking methodology can unlock design solutions that shake up a number of other established dogmas.
Changing the shape, color, taste, smell, and texture of food is a huge challenge for food technologists, because every moving brick destroys the rules that have been established so far, so there is continuous creativity and experiments. This creates the dependence of science and children's creativity on each other, you want to implement and discover new eating and food solutions.
Key objectives for inclusion
This project creates the unity of science and society, it also helps to reveal and strengthen young talents, to encourage at an earlier age not only to choose a healthier diet, to develop healthier life habits, but also to follow technological achievements and innovations. Science, technology has never been more widely advanced, which increases the ever-increasing exclusion of some sections of society. Due to lack of access to the Internet or low digital literacy, some children do not have the opportunity to touch such technological achievements even with the corner of their eyes. Also, not all schools have the necessary or latest equipment and technologies in their classrooms, so this Future Food project, which combines the science and children's community, presenting it to the public, creating an opportunity to get involved and contribute, is an incredible concept.
How Citizens benefit
This project aims to draw public attention to children as valuable participants in society, to highlight their ability to imagine the future and create it! With the support of the relevant communities, the involvement of business and scientific representatives, we can create sustainable foundations for future leaders.
The future food concept created by kids surprised actual scienctists and created a close partnership between young innovators and technology experts. In order to implement the idea, there is a continuous dialogue between scientists and children, as well as research and creativity. This project unlocks the opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves equally in the captivating exploration of shaping the future for all of us.
The children's future food project began when two young girls tried to create products by solving their own problems. The girls noticed that they were not satisfied with the experience of eating at school: huge queues at lunchtime, food that is not always tasty, so what is not eaten is simply thrown away; and it is impossible to eat lunch and also rest or play during the same break, so you have to choose one of those.
The axis of this concept is the interaction of food and creative play. The main idea that the faster you eat - the more time will be left to play determines the application of future food technologies to meet the nutritional needs of future children. In their opinion, the school catering system no longer meets the habits and needs of modern children and does not contribute to the formation of healthy life habits.
Currently, the children have started cooperation with the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology to develop high-level research with internationally significant impact in the field of food technology and environmental technology as well as to create added value, innovative knowledge for sustainable development between science and society by fostering children's future food concept.
The future food concept created by kids surprised actual scienctists and created a close partnership between young innovators and technology experts. In order to implement the idea, there is a continuous dialogue between scientists and children, as well as research and creativity. This project unlocks the opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves equally in the captivating exploration of shaping the future for all of us.
The children's future food project began when two young girls tried to create products by solving their own problems. The girls noticed that they were not satisfied with the experience of eating at school: huge queues at lunchtime, food that is not always tasty, so what is not eaten is simply thrown away; and it is impossible to eat lunch and also rest or play during the same break, so you have to choose one of those.
The axis of this concept is the interaction of food and creative play. The main idea that the faster you eat - the more time will be left to play determines the application of future food technologies to meet the nutritional needs of future children. In their opinion, the school catering system no longer meets the habits and needs of modern children and does not contribute to the formation of healthy life habits.
Currently, the children have started cooperation with the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology to develop high-level research with internationally significant impact in the field of food technology and environmental technology as well as to create added value, innovative knowledge for sustainable development between science and society by fostering children's future food concept.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The Future Food project is an interdisciplinary initiative that combines children's creativity and vision of the future with the involvement of the scientific community in the exchange of knowledge, thus monitoring the well-being of us all.
VIVITA Lithuania, by supporting the process and managing it, helps connect different generations and areas, preserving respect and importance for everyone - scientists and children.
Also, the idea of Rasa and Amelia's journey, scientific practical research and implementation into a festival format is a never-before-seen solution. This all makes this experience open and invites every child to not only think about their future, but to co-create it.
VIVITA Lithuania, by supporting the process and managing it, helps connect different generations and areas, preserving respect and importance for everyone - scientists and children.
Also, the idea of Rasa and Amelia's journey, scientific practical research and implementation into a festival format is a never-before-seen solution. This all makes this experience open and invites every child to not only think about their future, but to co-create it.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
VIVITA Lithuania encourages children to become autonomous creators, enhancing children's creativity, critical thinking and mentoring, it provides full financial and human resources.
Rasa (10 y.o.) & Amelija (12 y.o.) are pupils, actively participating to make their own Future Food idea into reality.The kids have done research at a public school - Vilnius Petras Vileišis pro gymnasium, and therefore they plan to develop their project to make a substantial impact within their community.
VIVITA Lithuania plans to organize a future food festival based on Rasa and Amelija's project research in Vilnius Petras Vileišis pro gymnasium. The team is working hard to spread awareness about healthier food choices, its nutritions and future food technologies, to uncover food design and food innovations, shaping a healthier lifestyle and helping children develop the needed confidence to create the future of it. About the Future Food Festival:
This is the first food design festival for children, organized by VIVITA Lithuania. The overall aim is to educate kids on food design and food innovation, shaping a healthier lifestyle and helping children develop the needed confidence to create the future of it.
The food festival is a growing initiative by Rasa and Amelija, which expands children's understanding of food and technology and contributes to creating a more sustainable future. This initiative creates future food for children. During the investigation and research stage, the girls noticed that in order to create the food of the future, it is important to understand how the human digestion system works. We will showcase all of this in a creative and immersive way during the workshop, at the same time educating kids together with professionals who will reveal the scientific side of future food.
VIVITA active learning methods and the created environment will help kids acquire knowledge not only in a fun and interesting way, but also for a longer period of time so that every
Rasa (10 y.o.) & Amelija (12 y.o.) are pupils, actively participating to make their own Future Food idea into reality.The kids have done research at a public school - Vilnius Petras Vileišis pro gymnasium, and therefore they plan to develop their project to make a substantial impact within their community.
VIVITA Lithuania plans to organize a future food festival based on Rasa and Amelija's project research in Vilnius Petras Vileišis pro gymnasium. The team is working hard to spread awareness about healthier food choices, its nutritions and future food technologies, to uncover food design and food innovations, shaping a healthier lifestyle and helping children develop the needed confidence to create the future of it. About the Future Food Festival:
This is the first food design festival for children, organized by VIVITA Lithuania. The overall aim is to educate kids on food design and food innovation, shaping a healthier lifestyle and helping children develop the needed confidence to create the future of it.
The food festival is a growing initiative by Rasa and Amelija, which expands children's understanding of food and technology and contributes to creating a more sustainable future. This initiative creates future food for children. During the investigation and research stage, the girls noticed that in order to create the food of the future, it is important to understand how the human digestion system works. We will showcase all of this in a creative and immersive way during the workshop, at the same time educating kids together with professionals who will reveal the scientific side of future food.
VIVITA active learning methods and the created environment will help kids acquire knowledge not only in a fun and interesting way, but also for a longer period of time so that every
Methodology used
VIVITA Vista is a global accelerator program for children to help them develop entrepreneurship, essential digital competencies and prototyping skills.
During the program (staretd on October, 2022), children have the opportunity to create a working prototype of their idea, be it a product or a service.
The program includes a variety of prototyping and creative problem-solving workshops and games, with a wide range of global experts in various fields participating as mentors and advisors in the program.
It was during this program that the girls came up with an idea that solves their current problem of bad eating experiences at school. This program lasted for 6 weeks. After the program, the girls have already refined the concept that they nurtured in the VISTA club and continued to go all the way to be where they are with the VIVITA Lithuania mentor.
Rasa and Amelija, mentored by Veronika Guzelyte, are working on this project for more than a year.
During the program (staretd on October, 2022), children have the opportunity to create a working prototype of their idea, be it a product or a service.
The program includes a variety of prototyping and creative problem-solving workshops and games, with a wide range of global experts in various fields participating as mentors and advisors in the program.
It was during this program that the girls came up with an idea that solves their current problem of bad eating experiences at school. This program lasted for 6 weeks. After the program, the girls have already refined the concept that they nurtured in the VISTA club and continued to go all the way to be where they are with the VIVITA Lithuania mentor.
Rasa and Amelija, mentored by Veronika Guzelyte, are working on this project for more than a year.
How stakeholders are engaged
VIVITA Lithuania inspires innovations with children, by children and for children. The mentors help children develop the confidence to imagine the future and empower them to create it.
Children can attend innovation workshops at VIVITA for free. They can learn new skills through independent experimentation and participation in real-life projects without the fear of failure or making a mistake. By solving specific challenges, children gain actual experience in ideation, prototyping and presentation, thus planting the seeds of entrepreneurship. This is where their innate creativity is enhanced and opened to its full potential.
The children's mentor, project leader Veronika Guželytė leads the creative process and helps the students, providing them with all the tools and experiences to become autonomous game-changers who are not afraid of failure.
Rasa and Amelia are the authors of ideas and they make all decisions themselves when creating their future food project. They participate in all project stages and collaborations.
In this application, KTU Chemical Technology University is presented as a partner that would contribute to the fulfillment of this innovative concept.
Children can attend innovation workshops at VIVITA for free. They can learn new skills through independent experimentation and participation in real-life projects without the fear of failure or making a mistake. By solving specific challenges, children gain actual experience in ideation, prototyping and presentation, thus planting the seeds of entrepreneurship. This is where their innate creativity is enhanced and opened to its full potential.
The children's mentor, project leader Veronika Guželytė leads the creative process and helps the students, providing them with all the tools and experiences to become autonomous game-changers who are not afraid of failure.
Rasa and Amelia are the authors of ideas and they make all decisions themselves when creating their future food project. They participate in all project stages and collaborations.
In this application, KTU Chemical Technology University is presented as a partner that would contribute to the fulfillment of this innovative concept.
Global challenges
The future food festival is expected to be implemented in the fall of 2024.
Currently, applications are being prepared for the Vilnius City Municipality regarding the location and funding of the festival, additional partners and sponsors are being sought to help implement the planned project.
The school, where Rasa and Amelia's project research began, is an official partner that agrees to implement the future food festival within its school community.
Together with the KTU Department of Chemical Technology and its scientists, the children will continue their future food creation experiments, which will be included in the festival program.
During the creative workshops planned for the festival, the opinions of children and the public about future food will be reviewed and this will be taken into account in the further development of future food products.
Currently, applications are being prepared for the Vilnius City Municipality regarding the location and funding of the festival, additional partners and sponsors are being sought to help implement the planned project.
The school, where Rasa and Amelia's project research began, is an official partner that agrees to implement the future food festival within its school community.
Together with the KTU Department of Chemical Technology and its scientists, the children will continue their future food creation experiments, which will be included in the festival program.
During the creative workshops planned for the festival, the opinions of children and the public about future food will be reviewed and this will be taken into account in the further development of future food products.
Learning transferred to other parties
Every year, VIVITA Lithuania participates in the VISTA program, where children solve actual problems by creating products or services. There is active communication with children and professionals in their respective fields and communities.
This food project, created by Amelia and Rasa, involves partnering with representatives of science, and focuses on public presentation, public involvement when creating a future food festival. All of this can be adapted to the presentation of other children's projects in order to convey the actualization of children as full-fledged, valuable participants of society.
Also, in order to realize the food project of the future, it is necessary to carry out different research and tests. Next, by publicly presenting the girls' project during food festivals of the future, we can rasie awareness about healthier choices, nutrition, human digestive system and a healthy lifestyle together with the help of modern technologies.
The workshops planned at the festival can be easily transferred and adapted to various abilities and age groups of children. They can be carried out in different countries of the world, adapting to linguistic and cultural aspects.
Simply put, in order for people to live, they must eat. Thus, future food and well-being are global topics that are necessary to develop healthy habits from an early age.
In 1855, a freed slave and statesman Frederick Douglass said: "It is easier to build strong children than fix broken men." 168 years later, the quote still holds true.
This food project, created by Amelia and Rasa, involves partnering with representatives of science, and focuses on public presentation, public involvement when creating a future food festival. All of this can be adapted to the presentation of other children's projects in order to convey the actualization of children as full-fledged, valuable participants of society.
Also, in order to realize the food project of the future, it is necessary to carry out different research and tests. Next, by publicly presenting the girls' project during food festivals of the future, we can rasie awareness about healthier choices, nutrition, human digestive system and a healthy lifestyle together with the help of modern technologies.
The workshops planned at the festival can be easily transferred and adapted to various abilities and age groups of children. They can be carried out in different countries of the world, adapting to linguistic and cultural aspects.
Simply put, in order for people to live, they must eat. Thus, future food and well-being are global topics that are necessary to develop healthy habits from an early age.
In 1855, a freed slave and statesman Frederick Douglass said: "It is easier to build strong children than fix broken men." 168 years later, the quote still holds true.
Keywords
Children
Sustainability
Future Food
Sience
Community
