A large-scale event marking World Refugee Day was held at the House of Student Creativity in Truskavets. The event brought together over 100 participants: local residents, internally displaced persons, and visitors to the city. A team from Donetsk National Technical University also joined this important social initiative.
As part of the Tolocar mobile makerspace initiative, faculty and students from Donetsk National Technical University organized an engaging STEAM intensive for children and teenagers.
During the hands-on workshops, participants had the opportunity to:
- Build bird feeders and birdhouses while learning to care for nature and the environment.
- Master the basics of woodworking and develop project-based thinking by creating comfortable outdoor furniture for urban spaces with their own hands.
- Work with modern equipment from a mobile workshop and engrave unique souvenirs to commemorate the day.
“For our team, participating in such events is not only about promoting technical knowledge but also a real opportunity to support children who find themselves in difficult circumstances. When a child creates something with their own hands, they gain not only a new skill but also the self-confidence that is so necessary today,” notes Volodymyr Koval, a specialist at the Career and Marketing Center and manager of the “STEAM-Mandy” project.
Glib Stupak, director of the Center for Professional Development and Continuing Education at DonNTU, adds that “STEAM Adventures” is, above all, a space where barriers are broken down: “Working together on technical projects has become a bridge that has brought together local youth and children from among the internally displaced.” Over the past 12 years, DonNTU has faced the challenges of relocation three times. We understand better than anyone what it means to adapt to new circumstances, so we’re ready to share our experience and support everyone who is building a life in a new place today.”
In addition to the university’s technical space, the event featured a legal and advisory hub, a mental health zone, and an art space. All of this was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Truskavets City Council, the “Open Space” Youth Center, civil society organizations, and our university community.
This event proved once again that STEAM technologies are not just about numbers and complex mechanisms. They are about people, support, and the opportunity to shape the future together, regardless of the circumstances.
Based on materials from Donetsk National Technical University