Croatian STEM vans bring education to remote areas

ByEnigma 808

Two Croatian initiatives have been selected for funding by the UniCredit Foundation’s Edu-Fund platform, which supports efforts to reduce educational poverty across Europe. Among the 30 chosen projects from over 500 applicants, Croatia will benefit from the Network of Education Policy Centres program and the OUI association’s STEM EduCamp project.

The Network of Education Policy Centres will work across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Slovenia to improve educational equity and student well-being. Over the next three years, it plans to train staff in 80 schools, provide mentoring, and host events for approximately 300 education professionals.

The STEM EduCamp project targets youth aged 11 to 19 in southern Croatia, particularly in rural and island communities with limited access to non-formal education. It will deploy a specially equipped STEM van to deliver hands-on workshops, scientific activities, and teacher training over two years, reaching more than 300 students. The van will also support the creation of educational materials and STEM games to spark interest in science and technology careers.

Funded with 288,820 euros, the STEM van will travel to remote areas, ensuring broader access to quality STEM learning. Mia Čović of the OUI association said the project brings together volunteers, educators, chefs, and researchers united by a commitment to youth and science. In total, UniCredit’s investment in Croatia and its neighboring regions exceeds €800,000, focusing on areas with high dropout rates and limited educational opportunities.

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    Besides writing and being a content creator, Enigma 808 sometimes likes to watch paint dry on walls, listening to ASMR while timing snails racing. Such is life.