World ORT sponsors inventive TV programme

18.09.08

18 September 2008 World ORT sponsors inventive TV programme World ORT has partnered with a reality show on an Israeli children’s television channel in which participants’ ingenuity, creativity and innovation was tested and encouraged. Filmed at the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Galileo Cup contest saw children in grades 3 to 6 compete in mentally challenging tasks with the goal of finding Israel’s best team of young inventors. Broadcast weekly, the show culminated with the presentation of laptops to the winning team of grade 6 students from Yavniel – Ido Mokady, Shaked Ya’er and Keren Baidz – by the Deputy Head of World ORT’s Representative Office in Israel, Avi Ganon (pictured). ‘It was very exciting to present the winning team with their computers; I hope this will encourage them to be committed to technology and science and that they will be leaders among their peers,’ Mr Ganon said. ‘Throughout the competition they displayed the creativity, innovation and vision sought by the judges. Their invention of a table cloth which doesn’t blow away in the wind was ingenious in its simplicity. The Yavniel team demonstrated what the show was all about: that children are highly creative innovators.’ The Galileo Cup was filmed at the Weizmann Institute of Science and broadcast weekly on the Logi children’s science Channel, which attracts more than 10 per cent of Israel’s young viewers. World ORT’s support for the contest was mentioned at the beginning and end of each show. Its been a great way to let Israelis know that World ORT is here for them as part of our Kadima Mada – Science Journey initiative, that we are doing whatever we can to bring out the best in the countrys children, Mr Ganon said. In addition, some 2,000 people attended the presentation ceremony where I was able to tell them about World ORTs Kadima Mada (Science Journey) programme. I received a lot of very positive feedback from that. The contest started at schools which have incorporated the Galileo Ingenuity programme into their curricula. The programme, which encourages creative thinking, is operated by Etgarim, a private company. Winners from each school entered district auditions. At these auditions 130 teams presented inventions which were judged according to utility, feasibility and originality – 35 of these teams got through to the national selection stage where eight teams were selected for the television show. During the series, the final eight teams presented inventions from a device to feed aquarium fish while the householder is away to a ‘smart’ baby seat which prevents parents from leaving their baby in the car. The judging panel included Professor Roni Zager of the Weizmann Institute and Mira Ackerman, the Galileo Programme Development Manager. Chen Kliman, Senior Editor of the Logi Channel said: ‘The Galileo Cup is a unique programme: it praises and emphasises a creative and original approach to problem solving. The children were very excited to participate and the winners were thrilled to receive their prize. I have no doubt that the laptops which World ORT presented will encourage them to continue in their creative path.’