Michal Hladký, Director of our East Regional Hub, participated in the ‘Start With Children’ summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, in May. Here are his thoughts and insights following the event.
What if we built cities not from the perspective of cars or commuters—but through the eyes of a child? That question powered the Start with Children summit this May in Bratislava, and the answers it sparked were deeply moving, radically practical, and full of hope.
Over two lively days, the Stará tržnica (Old Market Hall) turned into a space of imagination, filled with architects, mayors, urbanists, designers, cultural operators—and, most importantly, children. Hosted by the City of Bratislava and the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava (MIB), with EIT Culture & Creativity as a proud networking partner, the event brought together over 500 participants to reimagine what it means to create truly inclusive and caring cities.
Because what’s good for children—safe streets, accessible parks, nearby schools—is good for everyone.
Leading with Vision: Mayor Matúš Vallo
This powerful vision would not be possible without the leadership of Mayor Matúš Vallo. Under his guidance, Bratislava has been rethinking what it means to be a city of care. His long-term investment in child-friendly urban policy has already transformed school streets, public space, and planning processes—and Start with Children was the culmination of that commitment.
Through MIB’s work on the City for Children program, Bratislava is becoming a European benchmark for what inclusive, child-centered transformation can look like. It’s policy backed by action, and imagination backed by investment.
A City Through a Child’s Perspective
From the very start, it was clear: cities that work for kids work for all of us. World-renowned urbanist Carlos Moreno reminded us how the “15-Minute City” isn’t just about convenience—it’s about dignity and autonomy for every generation. The case of Copenhagen’s Five-Minute Neighbourhoods showed how bold urban design can foster community, sustainability, and wellbeing.
And then came a moment that truly stuck: Adam Gebrian’s lecture. He used his son’s view of the city to reflect on design, access, and belonging. It was a powerful reminder that children are the best observers of our public space—they notice what we’ve stopped seeing.
Building Networks for Cities That Care
At EIT Culture & Creativity, architecture is one of our five strategic focus areas—not just because of buildings, but because of what built environments can do. They can include, empower, connect, or exclude. That’s why we were proud to stand alongside Start with Children as a networking partner, helping link ideas, practices, and people across Europe.
We were also honored to be in the room with experts from Bloomberg Associates, who shared their experience supporting city leaders globally in making public space safer, healthier, and more joyful for children. Their presence elevated the dialogue from inspirational to actionable.
And we were thrilled to introduce Pille Vojčik as new EIT Community Officer for Slovakia—a dedicated connector who will support local stakeholders in tapping into the wider EIT innovation ecosystem.
The One Big Takeaway
“What’s good for children is good for everyone.”
This wasn’t just a tagline—it became a shared mantra. If a kid can walk safely, explore freely, and feel like they belong, that’s a sign your city is working. Start with Children helped make that clear. It wasn’t about nostalgia—it was about policy, design, and investment in a better future.
What Comes Next
We’re proud to have been part of this first edition of Start with Children, and we’re already looking forward to the next one. The conversations sparked in Bratislava are only just beginning—across cities, across sectors, and across Europe.
Let’s keep building cities that welcome curiosity, nurture care, and honour every child’s right to belong.
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