A totally independent robot backpack, a mirror that advises you on your look, a rubbish bin that gives suggestions about differentiated waste disposal – these are just a few of the winning innovative ideas in the 14th We are Energy international competition for children of Enel employees around the world. The event drew to a close on 18 July in Rome with the great Celebration Day party.
The theme for this year’s contest was “The Energy of Things.” It was chosen in order to inspire the creativity of our young participants, and to encourage them to use digitalisation to make the places and activities they encounter every day “smarter.”
The participants, who were divided into two age groups (8 to 12, and 13 to 17), conceived and designed the digital development of a service, object or job. This was in order to involve them in the great challenge that is also being faced by their parents: the company’s digital transformation.
For the duration of the competition these digital natives became inventors, journalists, scientists, entrepreneurs, creatives and dreamers, presenting their ideas for transforming our homes, our work and our cities.
The juries from the 16 countries involved, from Italy to Australia (taking part this year for the first time), Russia, the USA and Central and South America, chose the 116 most original and creative entries from a list of over a thousand projects, and the youngsters who created them – including 36 Italians – went on to take part in the international campus held in Avigliano, Umbria from 8 to 22 July. Here the winners of the 2018 event joined in technology and innovation workshops, artistic activities, sports tournaments, themed evenings and many other opportunities for learning and fun.
During the Celebration Day these young future digital leaders were presented with their awards by Enel Chairman Patrizia Grieco and CEO and General Manager Francesco Starace, who were also joined by Director of Communications Ryan O'Keeffe, Head of Global Digital Solutions Carlo Bozzoli, and Giulio Fazio, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, who explained to their young audience how to create and protect their own digital identity.
The real stars of the event were, however, our kids, with all their passion and their ability to share it – the value that’s at the very heart of the international We are Energy community.