Empathy Foundation supports young talents of the Middle Urals

Photo: Empathy Charity Foundation Press Service

 

SVERDLOVSK REGION

 

Maria Ksenofontova, a tenth-grader from Nizhnyaya Salda, has won the final round of the international Start in Science competition. The Empathy Charity Foundation congratulated the girl and rewarded her with a cash prize. Earlier, the student from School No. 5 showed the best result in the Foundation's Engineering Accelerator.

 

"We are sincerely delighted to see a finalist of our Engineering Accelerator among the winners of the international competition. In six months, Masha has proven herself in three major projects – such successes should be encouraged and set as an example. I would like to wish the winner and all Salda students that they never stop at what they have achieved and set themselves new ambitious goals. May we see more kids from Verkhnyaya Salda and Nizhnyaya Salda at major national competitions next year," said Empathy founder Mikhail Shelkov.

 

Each of Maria's works is dedicated to important, socially significant topics, such as the health of schoolchildren or the choice of a future profession. At Start in Science, she presented "The Impact of Backpack Weight on Schoolchildren's Health", in which she alerted children and parents to the increased risk of spinal curvature, wrist problems, the development of flat feet and increased trauma from the heavy backpacks. Following the study, the girl made a series of recommendations to reduce the load on the growing body. The jury highly appreciated the work of the student from Salda and her oral report. 

 

In 2021, Maria Ksenofontova, together with Elizaveta Kovaleva and Daria Pagina, participated in the Engineering Accelerator "Workshop. Salda 2.0". Empathy's press service told RusBusinessNews that the prototype of the VR-application, which was developed by the girls for career counselling of young people, was recognized by the jury as the best and the foundation has allocated funds for the implementation of the project. Later, the team reached the finals of the Start in Innovation All-Russian Science and Practice Conference.

 

According to Maria, virtual reality captures the essence and atmosphere of the profession as much as possible, while offering a low entry threshold. You can safely immerse yourself in the work process – just put on VR glasses and take the controllers in your hands.

 

In addition to student scholarships, cash prizes for the best high school graduates and winners of competitions, the foundation unleashes the creative potential of children. There are training courses and events for them with guest psychologists. In 2021, Verkhnyaya Salda hosted its first Engineering Accelerator for Teens on Urban Improvement. Mikhail Shelkov, the founder of the Foundation, appreciated the successful start and hopes to develop work with young people in the regions.