Finalists of the regional stage of "100 Ideas for Belarus" proposed an energy generator and an emergency button for people with disabilities
The Year of Science is coming to an end. Of course, the carriers of scientific thought and serious developments in our country are, first and foremost, respected experienced scientists who have many years of research and verification of scientific theories to their credit.
But youth should not be discounted: it is the carrier of new ideas, fresh perspectives on the familiar, and its main tools are ambition, mobility, and proficiency in modern technologies. The regional exhibition-presentation "100 Ideas for Belarus" became proof of this. Here, as always, there are bold ideas and non-standard IT projects.
– I had the opportunity to attend the 2nd Congress of Scientists of Belarus, and the "100 Ideas for Belarus" competition, where the best ideas of today's youth are presented, was mentioned many times there, – said Viktor Glushin, First Secretary of the Regional Committee of the BRSM. – It should be noted that social projects have always existed, but every year there are more and more projects aimed at further commercialization, where young people strive to earn money. Often, these are IT solutions, web technologies, robotics, and new technologies in industry.
For example, at this year's exhibition, PSU students presented three projects: the website volontery.by, the "Panic Button" (an emergency notification system for people with disabilities), and a "Robotic Waste Sorting System". The authors of the latter are fourth-year students of the Radio Engineering Faculty, Maxim Gorevoy and Alexander Karla, and their development has no analogues in Belarus. The system, using sensors, can recognize three types of solid municipal waste: metal, plastic, and glass. It can be used at waste processing plants, thereby reducing costs and minimizing the human factor. Definitely, a great idea!
Students of VSTU presented a mobile application equipped with artificial intelligence, students of the Polotsk Economic College presented an automated watering system for indoor plants, Secondary School No. 15 of Vitebsk presented a hybrid energy generator powered by a wind turbine, and Yanovichi Secondary School presented phyto-accessories filled with the aroma of local flowers and herbs that have a beneficial effect on health.
The project of a young engineer from the "Training Center" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo", Dmitry Vorokhobko, is of interest – a website for distance learning of enterprise personnel and electronic testing. This is the only resource in our country that allows employees to improve their qualifications in various fields without interrupting their work. And this is only a small part of the declared ideas designed to solve problems in various areas.
– This competition is a unique mechanism that allows young people to announce themselves and determine the steps for implementing projects. It is support and promotion of innovative discoveries, a real chance to show their energy and initiative, – noted Gennady Egorov, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee. – Authorities are ready to consider and discuss constructive youth initiatives aimed at the socio-economic development of the region and the country as a whole.
In the Year of Science, the number of nominations increased to 20, depending on the theme of the submitted project. In addition, when summing up the results, the age of the participants was taken into account for the first time, and they were divided into three groups: schoolchildren, students, and working youth. Another important innovation is the opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in the competition.
In the "Inclusive Space" nomination, the Territorial Center for Social Services of the Chashnik District presented its project "Where the Fairy Tale is Born" (a doll-making workshop). Its goal is the socialization of people with disabilities, teaching them handicraft activities, and further employment. By the way, our readers have seen the works of this workshop, and the authors of "Postman Pechkin," who won the creative competition for the 100th anniversary of the regional newspaper, are also from there.
Following the exhibition, the authors of the best ideas received gifts from the regional committee of the "BRSM" youth union and partners of the competition, as well as vouchers for the republican final of the "100 Ideas for Belarus" project.
One of the final tasks of the project is their implementation. In this regard, investors need to be more actively involved. For now, the ideas are mainly brought to life by the efforts of the participants themselves and with the help of the expert council of the regional stage, which includes practicing entrepreneurs. Among the implemented projects of previous years are the travel service YourTravel, "Automation of the accounting system for the movement of electricity meters" (RUP "Vitebskenergo"), "Ecobus" (Vitebsk district), etc.