Building the Next Generation of Tech Creators
| Time | 11:00 – 12:40 |
| Location | ❻ Shanghai Room (AMS level 3) |
| Capacity | 30 |
Across the Netherlands, forward-thinking programmes are reimagining how children learn about technology. This 90-minute workshop brings leaders from three of the most influential youth initiatives together: Deborah Carter (New Tech Kids), Leonieke Verhoog (Cinekid) and Amalia Stuger (TUMO).
New Tech Kids
New Tech Kids teaches children to think critically and creatively about technology through structured lessons in computational thinking, design, and problem-solving. Their programmes emphasise hands-on making and ethical tech awareness.
Cinekid
Cinekid introduces young audiences to media, film, and interactive digital culture through festivals, workshops, and labs. Its MediaLab showcases cutting-edge art and technology, inspiring kids to explore creativity and storytelling.
TUMO
TUMO is a free after-school programme where teens develop digital skills—from animation and robotics to coding, design, and music production—through self-paced learning and expert-led workshops. It empowers young creators to experiment, build, and shape their future. Each speaker introduces their approach in a short 10-minute talk, followed by 5 minutes of moderated questions. Together they map out the essential skills—creative, ethical, technical—that young people need in a rapidly changing digital environment. In the second half of the session, participants join an interactive segment with demos, hands-on activities, and deeper audience discussions. The workshop offers inspiration and practical takeaways for anyone building, teaching, or designing for the next generation.
Each speaker will introduce their approach in a short 10-minute talk, followed by 5 minutes of moderated questions. Together they map out the essential skills—creative, ethical, technical—that young people need in a rapidly changing digital environment.
Follow Up Workshop: Lex malla, lex nulla: ‘a bad law is no law’ in the age of AI
There’s a lot of focus on AI and ethics. But what does this mean and what does this actually look like? During her workshop, Deborah Carter will take participants through a rules-based, ethical thinking framework that her company uses to teach primary and middle school kids to think critically about the ethics of technology. ‘A bad law is no law‘, especially when it comes to AI regulation. Come prepared to participate in role play, teamwork and collaboration, and sharing ideas.
Hosts
Deborah Carter
Deborah Carter is on a mission to transform technology education by making it relevant for the world we live in. She is the founder of NewTechKids, a tech education academy in Amsterdam which develops and teaches curriculum, lesson plans and teaching materials focused on computer science, critical and ethical thinking about tech, and digital literacy. NewTechKids has been commissioned by the Municipality of Amsterdam to design a 12-week AI literacy curriculum, one of the first of its kind in the Netherlands. Deborah is also Managing Director of PreparationTech, a Dutch non-profit dedicated to helping high school students from groups under-represented in the technology industry (females, racial and ethnic minorities, low income) learn about tech-related study, training and careers. Her ultimate goal: transforming kids and youth from passive consumers of tech to active tech innovators and inventors.
NewTechKIds: https://newtechkids.com
PreparationTech: https://www.preparationtech.com/
Founder of NewTechKids & Managing Director at PreparationTech Foundation
Leonieke Verhoog
Head of Cinekid Medialab
Leonieke Verhoog has long explored the intersections of technology, creativity, and play—always looking for new ways to spark curiosity in young audiences. Since 2022, she has led the MediaLab at the Cinekid Festival, curating a vibrant space full of games, digital installations, and hands-on creative tech workshops for kids aged 3 to 14. Previously, she worked at the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO, where she developed groundbreaking multimedia projects, from interactive magazines to mixed-reality storytelling. Her work blends design thinking with a playful, critical lens—opening up fresh perspectives and fostering digital literacy in children.
Amalia Stuger
Workshop leader Robotica & programming TUMO Amsterdam
Monique van Dusseldorp
Moderator of the session