BOLBORETA INNOVA GROUP / OUR PURPOSE / BOLBORETA IMPACTA / Building a Dream, Science y Design Thinking through the story of Cairo Steam
Margarita Salas Foundation
National, public spaces in rural areas and vulnerable neighborhoods
Story Surcar un sueño
Children from 1st to 6th grade of primary school in vulnerable situations
Because some dreams seem impossible
At Bolboreta Innova and the Margarita Salas Foundation we share a core belief: curiosity is not constrained by zip codes, socioeconomic status, or academic records.
This project began with an uncomfortable question: how do we break the invisible barrier that separates so many young people from knowledge? How do we ensure that science is no longer perceived as something out of reach, but instead becomes an everyday tool to understand the world, to dream, and to build a better future?
The answer lay in a story—Surcar un sueño—the journey of a small pig with an extraordinary ambition. And in the conviction that, sometimes, the most effective way to teach science is by telling a story that reaches the heart before it reaches the mind.
Turning a story into a scientific and emotional experience
In collaboration with the Margarita Salas Foundation, we joined their STEAM Catalysts program to bring to life Building a Dream (Construir un sueño), an educational experience that merges the magic of storytelling with the rigor of the scientific method. The initiative is inspired by the children’s book Surcar un sueño, published by Bolboreta Innova and illustrated by the talented Lara Torres.
Over the course of 90 minutes, primary school students (grades 1–6) become inventors. They don’t just listen to Cairo’s story—the little pig who dreamed of flying—they live it. They take on his challenge: to design and build, with their own hands, a toy capable of gliding or flying.
Working in teams, along the way, they experiment, fail, iterate, and improve—just like scientists. Just like Cairo.
Beneficiaries
Primary school children (ages 6–12)
Especially those who, due to socioeconomic circumstances, lack of close references or low academic performance, perceive science as something distant, alien, "from others".
Teachers, local communities, and scientists, through whom the little ones discover a new way of learning.
Additionally, their families, who see their children come home with new questions, handmade inventions, and a renewed sense of curiosity
Lara Torres
Illustrator. With a warm and expressive visual language, she gave Cairo both form and soul. Her illustrations do more than complement the story—they elevate it, infusing each page with magic and making every child feel that Cairo could be their friend
Margarita Salas Foundation
The institution bringing science to those who need it most. Founded in 2023, the Foundation drives the STEAM Catalysts program, designed to make science accessible to children and young people who perceive it as distant. Through facilitators, they create experiences that reframe science as a practical tool for understanding reality.
Upon discovering Furrow a Dream, they recognized it as the ideal emotional gateway to connect with younger audiences, integrating it into their program and co-creating the Building a Dream (Construir un sueño) experience.
Bolboreta Innova Group
Publisher of Building a Dream, upporting artistic creation while transforming the story into a tool to bring science closer to children through values such as resilience, perseverance, and teamwork. With the book in hand, it became clear that we needed a partner deeply aligned with our values—one capable of reaching the environments where scientific and creative vocations take root: educational spaces.
STEAM Facilitators
The soul of the project. They guide, mentor, and inspire. More than educators, they are role models who ignite curiosity and reveal that careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are accessible to all—regardless of background.
Schools, libraries, cultural and civic centers
Institutions that open their doors, trust the model, and support the process—ensuring the seed continues to grow long after the workshop ends.
This is the experience that turns children into inventors.
"Building a Dream" (Construir un sueño) is much more than a workshop —it is an immersive experience that engages the heart before the mind. Ensuring that science is lived with emotion, ceasing to be a subject and becoming an adventure.
It is also a space for inclusion: where every idea matters, every voice is heard, and failure is embraced as part of the process. At the same time, it challenges the notion that science belongs to a select few and opens the door to the understanding that the university is an open space, that laboratories and research belongs to everyone.
At its core lies a social STEAM vision—one that positions science as a tool to build a more equitable world, rich in opportunity and open to every dream.
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Methodology: Design Thinking, Story-Based Learning, and Science-Based Toys
Age: From 6 to 12 years old. (Adaptive)
Format: Cooperative teams of 4-5 children
The experience, step by step:
"Building a dream" is a journey in six stages. Each of them has a purpose, an emotion and a learning, and all together they achieve something magical: that children experience science not as a subject, but as a shared adventure.
Cairo's Dream / 15 minutes
It all starts with a story. The facilitators read Surcar un sueño —or selected excerpts—and children immerse themselves in Cairo’s world: a thoughtful pig who dreams of flying while others laugh at him
This stage focuses on emotional connection and empathy. Through guided questions, facilitators bridge storytelling and science: Why does Cairo want to fly? How does he feel when he fails? What does he do instead of giving up? And most importantly—have you ever had a dream that felt difficult?
Cairo’s Challenge / 10 minutes
It’s time to move from story to action. The challenge is clearly defined: “Help Cairo build a toy that allows him to glide or fly.” A set of simple, well‑defined rules follows: using only three or four materials, participants must design and build a toy based on real physical principles such as balance, weight, and even aerodynamics.
Throughout this phase, children are encouraged to test and refine their creations. Just like Cairo, their first attempt may not work—and that’s part of the process. Failure is not a reason to give up, but an invitation to learn and improve.
The experimentation is guided by key questions posed by the facilitators, prompting reflection and critical thinking: What do we want our toy to do? What do we think it needs in order to fly?
Thinking Like Inventors Cairo / 15 minutes
With materials laid out on the table—paper, straws, modeling clay, feathers, small stones for counterweights—each group sketches its idea on paper: what the wings will look like, where the weight will go, and what shape the body will take.
The most important message at this stage is clear: every idea is valid. There are no wrong sketches. This is the perfect moment to reinforce the lesson Cairo teaches us—every failure carries a learning opportunity.
Building the Dream / 25 minutes
This is the core moment of the experience, when children get hands‑on and bring their ideas to life. Each group builds its prototype independently, without direct adult intervention. Facilitators simply guide the process through questions such as: What would happen if the wing were larger? Is the toy balanced? How do you think it will react to the air?
In this way—often without even realizing it—children explore key concepts such as balance, weight and counterweight, aerodynamic shape, and air resistance.
Like Cairo / 15 minutes
As the experience approaches its final stage, it’s time for the moment of truth. From a safe point, each group launches its prototype and observes what happens. Some will fly. Others will fall. Many will do something completely unexpected.
The golden rule is simple: only one improvement is allowed—just one. This means observing carefully, identifying what didn’t work, and agreeing on the single most important change to make. It’s a powerful dynamic that helps instill the value of analysis, reflection—and yes, negotiation.
Building a Dream / 10 minutes
As the activity comes to a close, children gather in a circle around the facilitator, holding their creations and sharing what they’ve experienced.
Beyond whether their toy flew successfully, this moment shifts the focus to the heart. Through guided reflection, they revisit what they learned throughout the session, what Cairo did right—and, most importantly, what dream they themselves would like to build next.
7
Autonomous Communities
15
Participating venues
+250
Children reached
+200
Families engaged
In collaboration with the Vrulé Hospitality School
An illustrated story that inspires readers to dream, create and persevere
Social innovation finds its stage
