Video - Empowering Vulnerable Children Through AI: A Participatory Study from Central Europe

This article examines the challenges faced by children living in residential childcare institutions, particularly in relation to social inclusion, personal development, and educational equity. It presents findings from the international project Sport, Culture, and Education: Empowering Visegrad's Children for a Brighter Future, which aimed to support these children through a combination of non-formal education, cultural activities, and sports. A key innovation of the project was the integrative use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools were used to assist with pedagogical planning, create adaptive and personalized educational content, and support participatory evaluation processes. The study adopted a participatory action research approach and mixed-methods design, involving 68 children from residential childcare institutions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine, along with 21 childcare professionals. The findings show that AI significantly improved the quality and individualization of educational and cultural interventions. It also increased the efficiency of data collection and analysis. However, the study also identified important ethical, linguistic, and contextual challenges when implementing AI with vulnerable populations. The article concludes by discussing the broader implications of AI in residential childcare settings and provides evidence-based recommendations for educators and child welfare professionals seeking to use AI responsibly and effectively in inclusive education contexts.