ENERGA launches the fifth edition of the national educational competition

Where does electricity flow from and how a light bulb works? What are the renewable energy sources? Why should we use electric devices rationally? How to avoid the risks associated with electric current and what to in case of an electric shock? The children who join the "Energy Planet" national educational competition organized by the ENERGA Group with their teachers will learn the answers to these and many other questions. So far, almost 160,000 children took part in this campaign, carried out for the fifth time this year.

Computer, kettles, mobile phones or fridges are a permanent and very important elements of our world. Electricity powers many devices around us and helps us perform many difficult tasks. It is used not only adults but also by children. This requires them to have some knowledge and awareness, which is sometimes scarce. A study commissioned by the ENERGA Group and performed by PBS has shown that grade 1 to 3 primary school student have basic knowledge of electricity, but they are unaware of the rules of its safe use. Moreover, they do not associate saving of energy with protection of the environment. Every other child aged 7-9 does not know what to do in case of an electric shock and every fifth one sees no threats associated with staying near power facilities. Almost half of them is not aware of renewable energy sources and that saving energy is beneficial for the environment.

The ENERGA Group as a nationwide electricity supplier aware of its corporate social responsibility has engaged for years in the activities addressed to children that build awareness about the safe and rational use of electricity and develop pro-environmental behavior. Since 2010, it has fulfilled these goals through "Energy Planet", its proprietary educational program in the form of a competition for teachers and students of primary school grades 1 to 3. Another edition of the program started on 1 September 2014.

– This is the fifth edition of the "Energy Planet" competition. In the previous editions, almost 160,000 children from the entire country learned about electricity and the ENERGA Group's mobile learning center visited as many as 56 locations, always enjoying great interest not only among the youngest residents. We see this as a proof that this program is necessary and at the same time it is a great incentive for us to develop it and make it even more appealing. Especially since the topic is not easy - says Marta Dankowska, coordinator of the program from the Marketing and Communications Office at Energa SA.

- In October, our space Energobus, which is a laboratory on wheels, will visit four cities. During these visits, which are "learning through play" experiences, we want to educate even more children and adults in the idea of ​​the program and encourage them to take an active part in the "Energy Planet" competition and take the challenge to win the grand prize. The winners will enjoy a 2-day visit of the ENERGA Group's mobile learning center which, in addition to Energobus, features many attractions in 5 educational zones and the energetic "relay of 10 cities" – adds Marta Dankowska.

The program is conducted in the form of a competition for teachers and students of primary school grades 1 to 3. Any teacher, who conducts at least three lessons about electricity, using educational materials from the ENERGA Group, and takes his/her own proprietary action, may join the program. The competition jurors will select 10 winners from among the participants who submit reports of their lessons by 13 February 2015. The results will be announced on 13 March 2015. Ten winning classes will be rewarded by a two-day visit of the mobile learning center in their town. There will also be fifty distinctions and the involvement of the teachers and children will be rewarded by special certificates and diplomas. Each child of the award-winning and distinguished classes will also receive amazing educational gifts.

The "Energy Planet" program has been supported for 3 years now by Tomasz Rożek, a renowned science writer and promoter holding a Phd in physics: - I'm a physicist, but also a father of 9-year-old twins and I know how important it is that to educate children from an early age, showing and explaining the world around them.  The youngest should know what electricity is and how it is produced. Equipped with this knowledge, they will know how to use it safely. This is what we teach in the "Energy Planet" program. I would like to encourage everyone to participate in the competition. Not only the teachers, who have the most difficult job, that is to perform the tasks in the competition, but also parents, to support the teachers of their kids in these activities. I should add that the organizer provides custom-prepared materials that contain step-by-step guidelines on how to conduct a lesson on electricity.

The main prize in the competition is a visit of the "Planet Energy" mobile learning center in the town of the winning class. The interactive town will invite guests to see: the space Energobus - laboratory on wheels with a learning trail showing the history of electricity from an electron to an electric power plant, fascinating experiments conducted by academics, projection of a 3D educational movie and multimedia games and competitions. They will make learning about electric power a fascinating trip to the land of electricity. ENERGA's mobile center will make its trip around Poland in April and May 2015.

The Minister of National Education and the Children's Ombudsman are honorary patrons of the "Energy Planet" program. The University of Warmia and Mazury acts as the science patron.