Following the success of the first Everyday Heroes Challenge, TU Hamburg and the Elfenwiese School continue their collaboration to further improve everyday life for children with special needs.

Every child experiences school differently. Some require physical assistance, others benefit from adapted learning materials, sensory tools, or improved spaces for communication and interaction. Together with teachers, physiotherapists, and university experts, participants will identify these needs and develop practical solutions that can make a genuine difference.

Whether you contribute on-site in Hamburg or remotely from another ECIU university, you will become part of an international team that combines engineering, creativity, education, and social responsibility. Together, you will create solutions that have the potential to improve everyday life well beyond the duration of the challenge.

Facilitators from the participating TU Hamburg units form the interdisciplinary Teamcher Collective, supporting participants throughout the challenge with methodological guidance, technical expertise, continuous feedback, and educational perspectives.

**Why Join?**

- Work on a real challenge with real users.
- Experience interdisciplinary collaboration with students from across Europe.
- Learn how engineering and design can create meaningful social impact.
- Develop a prototype that may continue to benefit the school community beyond the challenge.
- Gain practical experience in design thinking, rapid prototyping, and digital fabrication.
- Become part of an established ECIU Challenge entering its second edition.

CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document that summarizes your educational and professional history. It must provide a detailed overview of your academic and work experience, skills, achievements, and qualifications.

Transcript of Records is an official document issued by your home university. It specifies the name of the institution, the academic programme you are enrolled in, the list of courses taken up until the current period, the exams or tests you passed, the grades and the credits you earned. 

Transcript of Records

Motivation letter is a personal statement and it might include a brief introduction of yourself, explanation why are you interested in the learning opportunity you are applying to, any relevant experience or skills that you have, your goals and how this opportunity will help you achieve them, This document should not be more than 400 words.

Motivation Letter

Hamburg University of Technology

Child with superman cape walking along a street

Everyday Heroes: Innovating Assistive Tools for Children with Special Needs

(winter term 26/27)

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Critical and innovative thinking

Inter-personal skills

Intra-personal skills

At the Elfenwiese School in Hamburg, pupils with diverse learning and mobility needs face everyday challenges during lessons, breaks, and social interaction. In collaboration with school staff, physiotherapists, and a cross-disciplinary Teamcher collective, this challenge invites you to explore these needs and co-create solutions that positively impact everyday school life.

Your contribution can take many forms, from supportive devices and sensory tools to playful spatial elements or inclusive design interventions that foster comfort, engagement, or participation. Whether you're working on-site or remotely, the goal is to rethink everyday tools and environments through empathy, creativity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Associate partner

WorkINGLab

Associate partner

WorkINGLab

Learning opportunities of WorkINGLab