19.02.2025
The unique educational initiative “Tolk Smart Tips”, launched by the Tolk Group of Companies in 2023, aims to teach children about energy conservation and responsible use of electricity. The project has received widespread approval from the public, educators and elementary school students in Kyiv, Lutsk and Uzhhorod.
The project’s goal and its new stage are described by Iryna Bereznieva, General Director of Tolk Ukraine LLC.
— Please tell us how and why the “Tolk Smart Tips” educational initiative came about?
— “Tolk Smart Tips” is an educational project for younger schoolchildren, which we launched in the fall of 2023. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is the first such project in Ukraine, created by an energy supply company. Its goal is to teach children the basics of energy saving and responsible attitude to the environment. We strive to form ecological awareness from an early age, because children can become the driving force of positive changes in society. The project came in response to the current challenges of Ukraine’s energy security, and we are glad that it has found such a wide response.
— How many children have already participated in the project?
— To date, the educational initiative has covered more than 1,500 children in Kyiv, Uzhhorod, Lutsk, as well as in Nizhny Bystry, where displaced children live and study. If we take into account their parents and relatives, the total audience familiar with “Tolk Smart Tips” exceeds 6,000 people.
— What stages of implementation did the program go through?
— The first stage began with the release of an interactive brochure with stickers, where children got acquainted with the fairy-tale character Firefly, who explained the rules of energy saving in an accessible way. Students actively interacted with the material, pasting the appropriate stickers depending on the situation, which contributed to better assimilation of information.
At the second stage, we supplemented the content of the brochure and doubled its volume. In addition, posters were prepared and published, which grouped all the Firefly’s tips on energy saving. These posters were placed in schools on bulletin boards so that all students could learn about the importance of saving electricity and how to achieve it.
The third stage of the project, which started recently, has a digital format. The Tolk Group has created a cartoon featuring Firefly.
— Why did you decide to create a cartoon?
— A cartoon is a modern learning tool that is easily perceived by children. It is bright, dynamic and at the same time informative. Together with it, we offer coloring books and light-reflecting flicker bracelets. Bracelets not only increase children’s safety in the dark, but also remind them of the importance of economical use of resources.
— What are your plans for the development of the initiative?
— We plan to expand the geography of the program and involve more schools. We are also considering the possibility of creating new digital materials and interactive tools for children. Our goal is not only to teach young citizens the basics of energy saving, but also to foster a responsible attitude to the environment. We believe that thanks to modern technologies, we will be able to reach an even larger audience and make another important contribution to the formation of ecological consciousness among the younger generation and the adult population of Ukraine.
