competition between eight high schools about the cities of 2050, workshops and debates, balloons and puzzles with Europe

What would resilient schools mean in 2050? What would your city look like in 2050? They were part of the topics discussed by the students present at the Europe Day organized in the center of the Capital at the Filipescu-Cesianu House by the European Institute in Romania, the Europe Direct Center with the support of the European Parliament Office in Romania, the Museum of the Municipality of Bucharest, the Ministry of the Environment and other institutions and organizations .

Eight high schools from Bucharest and Ilfov County presented projects in a competition on “How young people see their city in 2050”. The models, drawings, messages and stories were exhibited at the stands in the Museum’s garden and the student teams presented their ideas with enthusiasm despite the unfriendly rain that was present throughout the event.

The teams that won the 1st and 2nd places come from the Eugen Lovinescu Theoretical High School (1st place) and the Bucharest International Informatics Theoretical High School (2nd place). The project most appreciated by the jury was based on the idea of ​​a “circular city”, in which “the way of life is more ecological”. The second project, was based on “creating a residential unit supported by renewable energy”, using concepts such as geothermal energy, drones for agriculture, hydrogen fuel cars and others, as the students explained to G4Media.

“Freedom, democracy, prosperity, cooperation, security and above all hope”: the key words that define the European Union, recalled Mădălina-Beatrice Mihalache, Head of the Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Romania. “It’s been 17 years since Romania has been in the EU, since Romanian citizens have been enjoying the benefits of EU membership. I think it is the duty of all of us to understand, to inform ourselves and to explain to people what the Union does for the daily life of citizens and especially how we can get involved in shaping the European future. The European Parliament promotes the voice of citizens and democracy becomes stronger when people get involved and support the values ​​they believe in,” said the head of the EP office in Bucharest.

She recalled that in the June 9 elections, voters from all countries will be called to vote for 720 Euro-deputies. “The more people who vote, the stronger our democracy will be,” she said.

They also spoke about the EU and the future of young people Marinica Stoian, Inspector General, Ministry of Education, Bogdan Gioară, President, REPER2 Association, Florentina Costache, Communication Department Coordinator, European Institute in Romania.

Among the activities carried out at the event were: the workshop “My resilient school in 2050”, moderated by Ana Pălăduș, REPER21 and Reese Andrei Stoica, high school student, ambassador of the European Climate Pact.

The young people discussed what ‘resilience’ means and how schools could become that way in 25 years. They mentioned ideas such as environmentally friendly public transportation for students (electric buses, but also trams), outdoor classrooms, reinforced and energy-efficient buildings, containers for sorting waste that people respect, and others.

There was also the debate “Together we are stronger!” and the workshop “Our food in 2050”, moderated by Emil Zorilă, permaculture expert, ambassador of the European Climate Pact.

(Contributed by Alex Stanescu)