International Junior Conference entitled Where the World is heading 2026-Time Capsule

Stage 1 – until the end of February March 2026

The group supervisor meets with the participants and explains the idea of the project.
Participants create their works and place them into the two capsules.
The entire activity takes a maximum of 3 hours.

Stage 2 – until 11 May 2026

The supervisor registers the group on the project website:
The supervisor opens the capsule and prepares a collage/film/presentation along with a description based on the submitted works, then sends it to the organizers.
The information and materials are published on the Time Capsule project website.

Conference – 11 June 2026

During a special session, we “open” the capsules together.
We discuss the hopes, concerns, and ideas of the young participants.
Selected individuals may talk about their work.

What will be needed?

A room with workspace, tables, and chairs.
Art supplies: paper, crayons, markers, paints, etc.
Capsules – for example boxes, jars, or containers, labeled and securely closed.
(It is also possible to participate online – in that case, participants send their work by mail or deliver it to a designated place.)

Inspiration for participants

You may choose any form: a picture, story, poem, song, or a letter to your future self…

Sample questions to support the creative process:

What will happen if we start taking action?
What might the world look like if we do nothing?
Which animals, places, or experiences would I like to preserve for future generations?
What am I afraid of losing?

We’d like to thank the teachers and classes who participated in this year’s time capsule. A time capsule that explores the future of the world. We received applications from two groups, one from Poland and the other from the United States. Thank you for a new perspective on Where the World is Heading!

Submitted Time Capsules  2026:

1. Climate change – mentored by Timberlyn Duncan, description:

   These pieces were collection from a mixed age group. The youth had discussions out loud around the pieces they were creating. For the most part they spoke optimistically about their future, knowing that people should take care of the planet and take action to preserve natural spaces and protect wildlife. Some of the older participant had other views about what the future holds, and they said they were afraid that we were already too late in correcting climate issues. They discussed the dislike of AI and the dependence society has on technologies that harm the planet. Some of the pictures created included the reduction of water over time and the increase of grocery stores. As well as the loss of species such as turtles and the loss of homes, as one participant wrote about homelessness. Some spoke on clean water access and drew pictures with a planet with no land in the future. Overall, the groups seemed more enthusiastic to talk about a future where we acted rather a future where we have not acted against climate change.

2. Wandering about Sopot future, mentored by Aleksandra Kotarska, description:

   In our time kapsule we had tons of artwork about floating the planet by trash, there ware some works inspired by movies or games like ‘The last of us’ (fungi zombie, deathly viruses etc.). Children often used recycled materials. One student made crotched puppets about impact of pollution on evolution of animals in the sea. Another one made audio with sound effects about scientist in far future who is trying to built artificial ozone layer. Hopefully there ware som positive works, like animation about living in the future in sustainable houses with renewable energy sources, home permaculture and natural materials.

You can have a look at those time capsules by following the link below and scrolling webpage to the bottom.

Time Capsule 2026 results