About

OPEN FUTURE is a unique 3-year extra-curricular program for young people between 11 and 15 years. Its aim is to promote their digital skills, creativity and entrepreneurship, and help them increase the probability of better educational opportunities. Participants work in teams on a mini-social start up for their communities. Mentors help them increase their educational and employment prospects.

The program introduces a unique cooperation: it connects municipalities, which are interested in skill development of young people; experts who are willing to give their time and know-how for a good cause; and young people who have the right motivation to improve their abilities and increase their potential.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT TALENT IS EVERYWHERE BUT OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT. 

WORLD OF INNOVATIONS

We are bringing the world of top startups, innovations and technologies closer to communities in Slovakia.

SOLUTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES

Our participants work on a group project addressing local issues.

AFTER-SCHOOL PLACE TO BE

A high-tech coworking club with a chill-out zone.

ASSISTANCE AND MENTORING

Our coordinators and mentors hold inspiring and interactive workshops twice a week, but also offer individual assistance such as helping with homework or preparation for high school entrance exams.

 

Thanks to mentoring and creative work on a start-up project, children are more motivated to self-development and education.

Why is the program unique?

The program supports teamwork of young people on their own project, finding solutions to local problems, or bottom-up social innovations.

Children are guaranteed safe and inclusive environment (refreshments, opening hours until late afternoon, individual approach by trained coordinator and mentors). Club is opened close to schools and communities with a higher rate of families of socially disadvantaged background.

Research of similar initiatives, mentoring schemes and organizations running in Slovakia has proven that a long-term program of comparable quality to Open Future does not exist in our country.

The curriculum responds to student needs and insufficient results of schools and at the same time supports skills of the 21st century.

What are the skills of the 21st century?

Soft skills

Participants enhance their soft skills via team work and problem solving.

Participants create projects with emphasis on their own communities and regions.

Entrepreneurship

Digital skills

The program enhances children’s digital literacy to prepare them for the rapidly changing world.

News

Digital skills are the skills of the future. The results of the testing confirmed that there is a great need to develop them

Digital skills are the skills of the future. The results of the testing confirmed that there is a great need to develop them

The pandemic has revealed the need to develop digital skills in children.…

4. November 2021
Arnold Kiss, an expert in soft skills: The biggest problem is when school isolates children from reality

Arnold Kiss, an expert in soft skills: The biggest problem is when school isolates children from reality

"When I taught in a primary school, I experienced first-hand how sensitively…

25. July 2021
Expert in entrepreneurship: Children need to learn that education does not end with school

Expert in entrepreneurship: Children need to learn that education does not end with school

Marián Holienka has been involved in business education for many years. He…

24. June 2021
Digital skills expert: Children need to know that it is in their power to make changes

Digital skills expert: Children need to know that it is in their power to make changes

What exactly are the skills of the future, and what will the…

22. June 2021
The unique educational programme entitled Open Future now in Zvolen

The unique educational programme entitled Open Future now in Zvolen

Open Future, a unique programme for children in primary schools, created by…

17. June 2021
Open Future and digital skills

Open Future and digital skills

Why are digital skills and their development in children key to our…

16. April 2021
Open Future and entrepreneurship

Open Future and entrepreneurship

Open Future is a programme for a selected group of children. It…

16. April 2021
Open Future and soft skills

Open Future and soft skills

Why did we decide to give such a large scope to soft…

13. April 2021
An Extra-curricular Innovation Centre for Primary School Pupils Was Established in Trnava. They Will Look for Solutions to Community Problems.

An Extra-curricular Innovation Centre for Primary School Pupils Was Established in Trnava. They Will Look for Solutions to Community Problems.

Yesterday, on the 26th November 2019, the Pontis Foundation in cooperation with…

27. November 2019