CLIB students reach national final with innovative education app

Students from the CLIB - Colégio Luso-Internacional de Braga have been named national finalists in the Junior Market Porto 2026 competition after developing an innovative educational app aimed at transforming children’s screen time into a more productive experience.

The project, called SkillLink, was created by six Year 10 students as part of the “A Empresa” programme, promoted by Junior Achievement Portugal. It addresses a growing concern among families and educators: the excessive and often unproductive use of digital devices by children.

An app that promotes real-world skills

Designed for children aged 6 to 12, the SkillLink app offers a fresh approach by encouraging practical, hands-on activities rather than passive screen use.

Through the platform, children can choose a skill – such as cooking, gardening, origami, sewing or basic household repairs – and follow simple, guided steps to put their learning into practice offline, in real-life settings.

Gamified learning with parental involvement

The app incorporates a gamified system that rewards children’s progress with digital badges and achievements, linking real-world accomplishments to engaging digital incentives. All activities are carried out with parental awareness and approval, helping families stay involved in their children’s development.

National recognition for innovation

The project’s innovative concept and educational impact secured SkillLink a place at the Junior Market Porto 2026, qualifying the team for the national final, where they will represent CLIB alongside leading student projects from across the country.

A solution rooted in real family challenges

According to project mentor and CLIB teacher Amanda Chohfi, the recognition highlights both the relevance and creativity of the students’ work:

“It has been very rewarding to see students take a topic that is so present in everyday family life and turn it into a positive solution. SkillLink shows that screen time doesn’t have to be negative—it can become a starting point for developing independence, creativity and valuable real-life skills.”

Looking ahead

The app has also been designed with parents in mind, offering a more balanced approach to managing children’s digital habits. Future development could extend its use into schools and extracurricular programmes, broadening its educational impact.

SkillLink reflects wider global trends in education, which increasingly prioritise skills such as creativity, autonomy, problem-solving and self-management – key competences for the future.

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