The FiDi Clubs project (film-dialogue clubs), implemented by Rotary Club Trnava in close cooperation with Rotary Club Bratislava International, demonstrated how the combination of film and expert discussion can shape children’s critical thinking and value systems.

In March 2026, two exceptional screenings of the film Greetings from Mars (2024) took place at Kino Hviezda in Trnava, organized in cooperation with the civic association CINEDU. However, the event went beyond a standard film screening—each showing was followed by a moderated discussion with an expert guest, offering space to reflect on themes such as empathy, diversity, inclusion, and understanding.

The project engaged more than 550 children and young people, as well as teachers, who played an important role in connecting the film’s themes with the educational process. Participants worked with age-appropriate methodological and activity sheets that helped them better grasp complex social topics, including autism.

The FiDi clubs successfully met their objectives of fostering critical thinking and media literacy, while also strengthening values such as tolerance, cooperation, and social responsibility. The interactive format of the event further encouraged the development of new connections between schools, experts, and the wider community.

The successful implementation of the project confirms that film can be a powerful tool for education and dialogue. Rotary Club Trnava and Rotary Club Bratislava International have thus jointly delivered an initiative with the potential to have a long-term impact on the younger generation—not only in terms of knowledge, but also in their ability to understand the world around them.

Stanislava Ondrušková
Satellite RC Trnava