Education

Self-regulation and independence as the key to managing a diverse class

Movement should be accessible to everyone. Regardless of age, disability or individual abilities. It is this principle that brought together the projects "We invite teachers from kindergartens and first-cycle elementary schools," "School support teams," and the leadership of schools from the Žilina region. the third year of the Conference for Teachers, which will take place November 4, 2026, in the New Synagogue in Žilina.

Together with an expert partner Diversity We will bring practical experiences and tools that can be used directly in the school environment – from working with emotions and building a safe environment, through routines and support for independence, to the psychological hygiene of educators. The event will be accompanied by Adela Vinczeová.

Participation in the conference is free of charge. Registration is open until October 23, 2026, or until capacity is reached. You can register HERE

We look forward to a joint afternoon full of practical inspiration, sharing of experiences, and ideas for everyday work with children.

The Grant Call Inspiration Through Movement in 2026 supported inclusive playgrounds, accessible sports facilities, and physical activities for people with various needs 

Movement should be accessible to everyone. Regardless of age, disability or individual abilities. It is this principle that has brought together the projects supported by the Kia Slovakia Foundation in a grant call focused on inclusive sports, healthy movement and removing barriers. 

In 2026, it was successfully implemented 17 projects with overall support at a value of more than €383,000. Schools, cities, municipalities, sports clubs, and non-profit organizations operating in various parts of the Žilina Region received support. The selection of projects was decided by an expert evaluation committee, which assessed their contribution, quality, and long-term impact on local communities. 

The supported projects brought new inclusive playgrounds, sports and play zones, and barrier-free sports facilities; modernized existing spaces and expanded mobility options for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The support also helped organizations provide sports and rehabilitation equipment, allowing them to carry out physical, rehabilitation, and community activities on a long-term basis. 

Projects supported in the Inšpirácia Pohybom 2026 grant program 

• Village of Strečno – Construction of an inclusive children’s playground 

• The Town of Lodno – A place where we like to move around 

• Technical Secondary School Čadca – No barriers in movement 

• Village of Lúčky – Inclusive children’s playground in the village of Lúčky 

• City of Turčianske Teplice – Children's playground in Turčiansky Michal 

• City of Krásno nad Kysucou – Safe and inclusive playground near the primary school and kindergarten in Krásno nad Kysucou – Kalinov 

• Primary School E. Lániho Bytča – Inclusive sports facility near the Primary School E. Lániho 

• The United School of Dolný Kubín – Otherness drives us towards perfection 

• Primary School Turany – Let’s get moving together 

• Primary school with kindergarten Priehradná Martin – Health in motion: a school fitness park for children 

• Village of Bobrov – The meadow of life 

• Martin Arthritis League – ReumaWalk 2026 – On the path to pain-free movement 

• Multi-sport academy Žilina – Sport 

• CHADIM’S CHARITY FOUNDATION – 4th year Running with Wolves for Life- Chadim’s Charity RUN DAY – Three countries – three times the support 

• AKNELA – Dance for everyone – inclusive sports equipment for children with disabilities 

• SK JUVENTA Žilina – The joy of movement 

• Embracing as a Gift – Sport for Health without Barriers 

The projects implemented have shown that inclusion does not only arise from removing physical barriers; it is created when accessible spaces, regular activities, and a community of people who create opportunities for everyone come together. 

We thank all the supported organizations, schools, municipalities, coaches, educators, parents, and volunteers who help create an environment where movement can bring people together regardless of differences. 

The funds provided by the Kia Slovakia Foundation for the implementation of projects come from a portion of taxes paid (2 %). 

The Non-Formal Education Grant Program 2024–2026 is closing 

Not everything important can be learned in a classroom setting.. Young people gain a lot of experience outside of it as well – in teamwork, solving real-life situations, taking on responsibility, and implementing their own ideas. 

That is why the Kia Slovakia Foundation launched a grant program in 2024. Informal education. Its goal was to connect formal and non-formal education and to support the development of young people's competences in the Žilina Region. 

Support that doesn't end after one year 

The program was built from the very beginning on the basis of long-term cooperation. The selected organizations were given the opportunity to continue their projects for three years, develop them, and gradually respond to the needs of young people. 

The supported projects brought various forms of informal education – from youth work and the development of young leaders to experiential and technical education as well as inclusion and support for mental health. 

Over the three years we have worked with organizations: 

• Regional Center for Deaf People ANEPS – Digital Education and Inclusion of People with Hearing Impairment 

• Karpatská nadácia – development of the MyMachine program and creation of children's inventions 

• Slovak Scouting – Žilina Region – development of young leaders and volunteering 

• Spherical Trick – creative, cultural and community education for young people 

• SYTEV – participation of young people and community development 

• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Slovakia – personal development of young people through the DofE program 

• IPčko – support for mental health and prevention of risky behavior 

• POLIS Žilina Foundation – development of critical thinking and a culture of dialogue 

• FLL Slovakia – Robotics, STEM education and teamwork 

In 2026, the three-year period of the program comes to an end. It showed that Long-term support gives organizations the space not only to implement individual activities, but also to gradually develop and advance their programs. 

We thank all the supported organizations for three years of cooperation and for the work they dedicate to young people in the Žilina Region. 

The projects were funded through a portion of the taxes paid (2 %). 

Six schools successfully completed projects in the ROBOTICS 2026 grant call. Modern technical education does not start only in companies. It starts in schools that can offer students the kinds of technologies they will encounter in their future employment.

With the aim of supporting the modernization of technical education and the development of practical skills of high school students in the Žilina Region, the Kia Slovakia Foundation is implementing the ROBOTICS grant scheme for the second year. Under the current call, six schools received support in a total amount of 300 421,45 €.

Investment in the future of the region

The support was not intended solely for the purchase of technologies. Its goal was to create conditions for schools to prepare young people for the changing demands of the labor market in the long term, develop technical fields of study, and strengthen cooperation with industrial practice.

Thanks to the support, new robotic laboratories and specialized classrooms were created, and schools were equipped with modern industrial robots, software, and teaching aids. An equally important part of the projects was the training of educators, the modification of curricula, and the creation of conditions for the long-term development of technical education.

Support was awarded to:

• Secondary Industrial School of Information Technologies and Gymnasium in Kysucké Nové Mesto,
• Ignác Gessay Secondary Industrial School of Information Technologies, Forestry Secondary Vocational School, and Gymnasium in Tvrdošín, 
• Transport Secondary Vocational School in Martin, 
• Polytechnic Secondary Vocational School in Ružomberok, 
• Polytechnical Secondary Vocational School in Dolný Kubín, 
• Combined School in Nižná. 

Each of the schools utilized the support according to its needs and focus. New robotics classrooms were created, specialized workplaces were modernized, and opportunities for practical STEM education were expanded. The common denominator of all projects is modern teaching that connects theoretical knowledge with practical experience and brings students closer to the real environment of today's manufacturing companies.

At the same time, the significance of the projects extends beyond the schools themselves. Primary school pupils will also use the new laboratories during outreach activities, and several schools plan to organize workshops for the public, educator training, and expand cooperation with regional employers. Thus, the investment creates space for the development of technical education throughout the entire region while strengthening the connection between schools and practice.

The second annual ROBOTIKA grant call showed that modern technical education is not created just by purchasing new technologies. It develops where quality technical equipment, prepared teachers, and schools that want to open new opportunities for their students are interconnected. It is precisely such an environment that the Kia Slovakia Foundation has been helping to create in the Žilina Region for a long time. 

The projects were funded through a portion of the taxes paid (2 %).

Gallery

Ten kindergartens successfully implemented projects in the KÚTIKY 2026 grant program 

Curiosity, creativity, and a desire to explore are a natural part of childhood. The KÚTIKY grant program creates spaces in kindergartens where children can develop through play, creation, and hands-on experience.  

The Kia Slovakia Foundation has been implementing the KÚTIKY grant program since 2019 with the aim of supporting the development of technical thinking and practical skills in children during pre-primary education. Since its inception, a total of 63 kindergartens have been supported through the program. Through the program, nursery schools receive support to create a stimulating environment that offers children new opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and practical activities.

Learning through personal experience 

Thanks to the support, kindergartens are creating spaces and supplementing their equipment with tools that motivate children to try, construct, create, and find their own solutions. Through play, they naturally develop technical thinking, manual skills, creativity, cooperation, and the ability to solve simple problems. 

An important principle of the program is learning through direct experience. Children can work with various materials and aids, explore how things work, connect different contexts, and turn their ideas into concrete creations. 

In 2026, 10 kindergartens in the Žilina Region received support: 

• Municipality of Podvysoká, 
• Primary School with Kindergarten, Lokca 
• Kindergarten, Čajakova, Žilina, 
• Elementary School with Kindergarten, Vyšný Koniec, Čierne 
• Elementary School with Kindergarten, Makov 
• Primary School with Kindergarten, Hurbanova, Martin 
• Elementary School with Kindergarten, Predmier  
• Kindergarten, Fojstvo, Raková 
• Primary School with Kindergarten, Dlhá nad Kysucou  
• Primary School with Kindergarten, Školská Street, Konská 

The funds provided by the Kia Slovakia Foundation for the implementation of projects come from a portion of taxes paid (2 %). 

The Kia Slovakia Foundation, in cooperation with certified behavioral analyst Mgr. Zuzana Hollá, is preparing a two-day professional training for educators and professional staff of special schools in the Žilina Region, which will bring practical tools and strategies for working with children with special needs.

The training will take place on July 7–8, 2026, at the New Synagogue in Žilina and will focus on the practical application of the principles of applied behavior analysis in the school environment. Participants will acquire concrete tools and strategies that can be used in their daily work with children with special needs.

The program will include topics such as effective teaching, supporting student cooperation, organization of teaching, setting goals, and managing challenging behavior.

Organizational information

📅 Date:	July 7 – 8, 2026
📍 Location:	New Synagogue, Žilina
🕗 Time:	8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
👥 Capacity:	60 participants

Thanks to the support of the Kia Slovakia Foundation, education is free of charge for pedagogical and professional staff. Participation is conditional upon completion registration form.

Kia Slovakia Foundation organized in cooperation with a certified behavioral analyst Mgr. Zuzana Hollá two-day professional training for pedagogical and professional staff of special schools in the Žilina Region, which brought practical tools and strategies for working with children with special needs.

The training, attended by 57 male and female educators from 11 special schools, focused on the practical application of the principles of applied behavior analysis in the school environment. Participants acquired concrete tools and strategies applicable in their daily work with children with special needs. The program included topics such as effective teaching, promoting student cooperation, lesson organization, goal setting, and managing challenging behavior.