FRUSKA
The FRUSKA research project is a design-focused educational program that supports the social mobility of disadvantaged girls aged 10 to 18 through creativity, making, and shared learning experiences. Rooted in participatory design and mutual learning, the program emphasizes supportive teaching to build self-esteem, autonomy, and the confidence to shape their own environments and futures. Through a four-part workshop series—covering object design and modeling, self-reflection using mirrors, spatial design, and the creation of personalized items—participants engage in the design and customization of everyday objects. These hands-on activities not only teach practical skills but also help the girls develop technological, self-awareness, and social competencies that can improve their long-term opportunities.
Thanks to a fundraising campaign initiated by OTP Bank, the FRUSKA 2.0 initiative is now expanding its reach beyond Budapest with the addition of a mobile workshop bus. The vehicle—converted from a van and co-designed with design students—brings creative infrastructure directly to rural schools, youth clubs, and community centers where such learning spaces have not existed before. The larger goal of FRUSKA is to share this method with educators, social workers, and community leaders, making it adaptable for wider use and helping to foster more resilient, creative, and empowered girl communities across the country.