On October 25 and 26, the International Youth Center – Burgas hosted the two-day STEM event “Youth Leading the Green Energy Transition”, which brought together young people, innovations, and technology in one place. The event was organized as part of Activity 5, Phase 1 of the international project “Youth Leading Green Energy Transition” (YLGET), implemented in partnership with Asociatia Edu Lifelong (Romania) and SAYEG Derneği (Turkey), and funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.
The first day of the event was dedicated to outdoor demonstrations and hands-on presentations.
Talented students from the Vocational Technical High School and the Vocational High School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Electronics – Burgas, together with their teachers, showcased and explained the principles behind impressive projects using renewable energy sources. Among them were a model of a smart autonomous village, a robot that solves a Rubik’s cube, mini solar systems and other creative technical solutions developed entirely by the students.
The highlight of the day was the appearance of the Batkomobile – the third version of the electric car developed by the racing team of the Mechanical High School. The vehicle made several laps around the square in front of the Youth Center, drawing the attention of both children and adults. Visitors had the chance to see the car up close, take pictures and hear directly from the team that built it. The young engineers shared the story behind their bold project, the challenges they faced during development and what kept them motivated to achieve their goals. They even revealed a secret from “the pit stop” – plans to upgrade the Burgas-made electric car in the future. What exactly the next innovation will be remains a mystery for now, but we are sure they will succeed!
After the demonstrations, a lively discussion took place between the participants and the audience. Topics included the future of green technologies, the role of young people in the energy transition and ways to take real, meaningful action toward sustainability.
The second day took on a more educational and workshop-style atmosphere.
Participants stepped into the roles of municipal councilors in a role-playing simulation of a council meeting, where they debated a real-life case related to the green transition and the interests of different stakeholders. They then worked in small groups to develop their own projects focused on a sustainable common future, presenting them through creative posters and comics that reflected their ideas and visions for a greener tomorrow.
At the end of the training day, facilitators invited participants to “fill their backpacks” with the ideas and inspiration gained over the two eventful days and to share what had impressed them most and what they were “taking away” from the experience.
The team of the International Youth Center – Burgas extends special thanks to all guests from Burgas’ educational institutions, as well as to the students and leadership of the Vocational Technical High School and the Vocational High School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Electronics, whose active participation made this youth event possible.
The “Youth Leading the Green Energy Transition” project will continue with more initiatives and activities, giving young people with interest and enthusiasm the opportunity to get involved and contribute to a more sustainable and energy-efficient world.
