Think Big will support the ideas of young people

Telefónica O2 Slovakia in cooperation of Ekopolis Foundation opened new grant program Think Big. Mission of Think Big program is to motivate young people to create and realize their ideas and support their projects in the field of culture, sport, art, and environment. For public voting there were chosen 6 best projects by an Advisory Board, which member was the popular Slovak actress Zuzana Fialová.

„In O2 we believe in the potential of young people. We know, that they are full of ideas, energy and enthusiasm. However, they need the help for their ideas. Thanks to Think Big project we shake hands with the improvement of the environment, where young people live and meet. At the same time, we will contribute to the fact, that young people will have an opportunity to assure the broad public, that inspite of their age they can achieve big things with big importance,"

John McGuigan, a general director of Telefónica O2 Slovakia, explained.

Public voting
There were chosen 6 projects for public voting. It is possible to vote for them from 1st to 31st July 2010 by sms on the number 0940 680 808 or email: sutaz@o2.com.

3 winning projects will be known on August, 3rd, 2010. Their preparation and realization will be finished until December, 31st, 2010.

„The projects are so interesting, that it was difficult to choose just 6 of them. No mater who will win, for young people and their surrounding they will have a big importance. That is why I am looking forward to next years of Think Big and I hope we will help the largest number of young people", Zuzana Fialová

explained.

About Think Big

The main characteristic of the program is the participation of young people in preparation, planning, and realization of the projects. The participation of young people ensures that resulting place fulfills the ideas and needs of this community and will be actively used , young people, who are involved in every step of preparation, planning and creation will identify with its new face and usage. By means of this, there will be increased the number of people who will apperceive it as their own and will protect it , moreover there will be created new place, thanks to common planning and work there could be improved the relationships and fellowship among young people, among generations, young people and school, offices, institutions etc.

„By public spaces creation there is often forgotten about the young people - older pupils, students, teenagers, who need similar fair and agreable conditions for purposefull free time spending, sport, meetings and communication with friends", Lucia Skokanová, a program manager of Ekopolis Foundation apprecieted, the importance of the project.

Final projects are located in Zvolen, Kremnica, Košice, Bratislava, Prešov and Žilina. 4 from them are focused on the improvement of the environment, where young people live and meet. The objective of 2 projects is to improve the sport area in the neighbourhood, where young people could follow up their talent safely. 

More about the projects can you find HERE.