Bridgestone Expands “Dreams at heArt” Programme

Following record results in 2008, with more than 40,000 entries from 20 European countries received, Bridgestone plans in 2009 to expand its “dreams at heArt” competition to the Baltic States and Romania. In addition to prizes, says the tyre major, this year winners will again receive school visits from Bridgestone staff, who will arrive armed with a playful educational programme on road safety and ecology that includes an authentic GP2 racing car.

The “dreams at heArt” children’s drawing contest aims to encourage children to start thinking about road safety, and invites them to express their creativity in drawings or paintings. The competition is open to all primary school children in Europe up to the age of 11 years (split into 3 age groups, 0-7 years, 8-9 years and 10-11 years) and features a different theme for each annual edition.

Bridgestone reports that the “dreams at heArt” contest has grown in popularity every year since its introduction in 2005, showing the extent to which children care about safety and ecology. To build upon this enthusiasm, Bridgestone decided in 2008 to send its own staff into schools to talk with children about the road safety and environmental issues they face. The star of the show during these events is the GP2 racing car, decorated with contest winners’ work painted on its bodywork.

In 2009, the competition’s theme, “Safe Travel in a Greener World”, as well as the content of this school educational programme, will be linked closely to the two global campaigns run by the FIA Foundation: Think Before You Drive, which offers tips on road safety, and Make Cars Green, promoting more environmentally friendly motoring.

In addition to receiving visits from the Bridgestone team and being crowned “Safety and Ecology Ambassadors”, the top three winners in each age group will receive Bridgestone bicycles and safety helmets, and win digital cameras for their schools. Runners-up receive Bridgestone tennis sets and safety bags. Most importantly, says Bridgestone, all “dreams at heArt” participants receive their own drawing printed on a t-shirt.

Among the judges are David Ward, director general of the FIA Foundation, and Dr Anne Adriaens-Pannier of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Entries to the fifth edition of the competition must be received by 31st March 2009, with results announced mid-May. From June, all drawings will be posted on www.dreamsatheart.com.