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]]>“The Mighty Engine is more than just a fun day out—it’s a way to help young people and their families start powerful conversations about their bodies, their choices, and how we care for each other."
Start your engines and bring the whole family to experience The Mighty Engine – an exciting new museum experience powered by the Orgamites!
The Mighty Engine fuels curiosity, compassion, and conversation…
Start your Mighty Engines!
A bold new interactive exhibit designed to spark children’s curiosity and compassion is now on tour across Canada. First launched Orgtober 2025 at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, the Mighty Engine is headed east for 2026.
The Mighty Engine, powered by the globally recognized Orgamites education program, invites families into a hands-on learning adventure where organs are engines, kindness is fuel, and health is the road to greatness.
Developed to teach kids ages 5–11 about how their body works—and how to take care of it—this immersive experience uses car engine metaphors, Orgamites characters, and hands-on activities to inspire action and understanding.
Next Stop:
Museum of Industry – Stellarton, Nova Scotia – Feb. 3- May 11
Newfoundland – Spring/Summer 2026 – details to follow
Past stops:
Canada Science and Technology Museum | October 18, 2025 – November 3, 2025
Development of this exhibit was supported by the Senators Community Foundation, Canadian Blood Services, Ingenium/Canada Science and Technology Museum, and All Good Co.
Don’t miss out on your chance to experience the Mighty Engine.
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Why do we need to talk about organ donation and death?
We have many tricky conversations with kids, from stanger danger to the birds and the bees, but one of the most important conversations falls to the bottom of the list, or is never brought up at all. Far from being a mood killer, these conversations save lives (literally).
Unlike other difficult topics, death is a certainty. Having these conversations, in a way that is age appropriate, equips kids to deal with death when it strikes. If the worst were to happen, talking together beforehand about your choices regarding organ donation and death significantly reduce the stress and grief experienced by those left behind.
Families that do have these conversations in advance report them being a source of comfort. Families who go on to donate their loved one’s organs often find this to be an additional source of consolation.
"I've always found it hard to talk about certain subjects with my kids, especially those related to death and organ donation. It's not an easy topic to broach, but it's a conversation that is so important to have. I struggled to find the right way to approach the subject until I discovered Orgamites. With their help, I was able to have an open and honest conversation with my kids about the importance of organ donation and how it can save lives.”
How to talk about it
As with other important topics, aim to have many small, light conversations rather than one big heavy conversation. Think of the first conversation as the first step in a long and winding journey.
Try to keep it upbeat! Children can be surprisingly accepting of life and death (especially if you are, too!). From the age of around 5 to 7, most kids have thought about the reality of death – perhaps their pet fish has died, or a grandparent, or they’ve wept for a movie character. Make sure they’re processing this dawning realization of life’s fragility and finiteness in the healthiest way possible.
Let them share their thoughts, fears, and questions. Really listen. It’s okay not to have all the answers, but just make sure you validate their feelings (whatever they may be).
What to talk about
Talk about the fact that life as we know it is precious. None of us know what tomorrow may bring and that’s why we should be grateful for every new day and the opportunities it brings with it for us to love and be loved. Let your kids know that you are okay with this reality – it’s part of what makes you be more present – and treasure every single day.
One day, when you pass on (hopefully in a very, very long time from now), what do you want them to remember most about you? Talk about this with them. Perhaps you also would like to share what you believe will happen when we die – depending on your religious or spiritual beliefs.
When our lives do eventually end, let them know about the various choices available – regarding organ donation and our remains. Perhaps this would be a good time to let them know what you have decided in both cases, and ask them if they have any questions or choices of their own.
For more information on how to start the organ donation conversation at home, including age-based recommendations, do’s and don’ts, and common reactions, download Toolkit #1 which includes a Family Resource to walk you through this conversation.
Canada’s Backstory
First launched in Canada in September 2021, the Orgamites program has already made waves across the country, receiving enthusiastic feedback from students, teachers, and parents alike. It has emerged as a vital platform for helping children understand how their bodies work, while sparking conversations about how they can make a positive difference in the world—starting with their own health and well-being.
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]]>From the heart of one country to another
The Orgamites Mighty Education Program, created by South African ex-pat Roydon Turner, was donated by Canada to South Africa and accepted by Groote Schuur Hospital on behalf of South Africa, making all its resources freely available to all schools across South Africa.
As part of this special exchange students in both South Africa and Canada were invited to create works of HEART to celebrate this world’s first exchange.
This significant gesture reflects a core value: that supporting organ donation should not just be a message, but a principle embedded in action. By ‘gifting the Orgamites’ program to another country, Canadian Blood Services embodies the core philosophy of organ donation: that sharing is indeed the most powerful form of caring. In this case, it’s the sharing of resources to create an even greater impact for generations to come.
This world-first initiative is being led in South Africa by Dr. David Thomson, a Critical Care specialist, surgeon and head of the Transplant Centre of Excellence at Groote Schuur Hospital, and Stella De Kock, the managing director of the NGO, TELL (Transplant Education for Living Legacies).
Attending from Canada were Dr. Isra Levy, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services; Peggy John, Director, Operations, Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation at Canadian Blood Services; and Jenny Ryan, Associate Director, Public Education & Awareness Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation, Canadian Blood Services. Attending from the United Kingdom is Roydon Turner, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Orgamites and All Good Co. CIC. Roydon Turner, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Orgamites, is a South African-born Film Director, Producer, and Creative Director now based in London.
Canada’s Backstory:
First launched in Canada in September 2021, the Orgamites program has already made waves across the country, receiving enthusiastic feedback from students, teachers, and parents alike. It has emerged as a vital platform for helping children understand how their bodies work, while sparking conversations about how they can make a positive difference in the world—starting with their own health and well-being.
Learn more about the Orgamites in South Africa at orgamites.co.za
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]]>16 Orgamites Mini-Films with “Did You Know” facts about each Mighty Organ
Take a deep dive with the Orgamites and learn even more about each of these mighty organs and what they do inside our bodies. Let these films accompany your in-class or at-home presentations of any of the three teacher toolkits available to download for free. Visit the film showcase and download any or all of the mini Did You Know films here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10950495
A great big thank you to the many teachers and students across the country who participated in Orgtober 2024
During Orgtober, 75 teachers signed up to be part of the Mighty Orgamites Teacher Champion Network. Welcome!
Stay tuned for some exciting news about the Orgamites’ big adventure in 2025.
Canada is proud to be at the forefront, demonstrating to schools, organizations, and individuals worldwide how it’s done. Together, we aspire to raise awareness that will ultimately translate into more lives saved, both in Canada and globally.
Attention young artists!
Sharpen your crayons and get your brushes ready to go. A very special HeArt project like no other is on its way!
Want a project sneak peek? Email [email protected] to learn more.
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]]>Orgtober represents more than just a month on the calendar; it symbolizes a beacon of hope for those in need.
Orgtober aims to invigorate organ donation education by starting at a younger age, initiating family discussions, celebrating the core values that underlie organ donation (kindness, compassion, and inclusivity), and infusing an element of enjoyment into the process.
At its core, Orgtober is a catalyst for change through education. We firmly believe that by empowering children with knowledge, we can reshape societal attitudes toward organ donation. Our mission is clear: to amplify awareness (and appreciation) for our organs, ignite crucial conversations about donation, and, in the long run, increase the number of life-saving donors.
The Orgamites, creators of the world’s only global organ donation awareness program for grades K-8, have set a remarkable mission for Orgtober: to heighten awareness of our remarkable organs, foster discussions about organ donation among families, and, as a result, empower people of all ages to make decisions about organ donation that’s right for them.
Canada is proud to be at the forefront, demonstrating to schools, organizations, and individuals worldwide how it’s done. Together, we aspire to raise awareness that will ultimately translate into more lives saved, both in Canada and globally.
Orgtober promises to be a transformative undertaking, inspiring young minds, fostering family discussions, and sowing the seeds of compassion and generosity that will benefit society for generations to come.
To learn more about the Orgamites Education Program and to download your free resources, visit Orgamites.ca
Discover educational tools for all grades and ages, visit learn.organtissuedonation.ca
More info: The Orgamites and the Orgamites Mighty Education Programme were created by Roydon Turner. Creative and production by All Good Co., a Community Interest Company (AllGoodCo.org).
Our partners include Live Life Give Life, the Onassis Foundation, Canadian Blood Services, Team Margot, Giving to Help Others, Northern Ireland Donation, the Public Health Agency, the British Transplant Society, and the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT).
Supported by NHS Blood and Transplant, Organ Donation England, Wales, and Scotland. Official partner of the ESOT Congress in London, 2025.
*This approach has been validated through feedback and data gathered from our existing partners: Canadian Blood Services and Onassis Foundation (Greece), and Northern Ireland.
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]]>It took 10 years to become an overnight success story!
The BBC One Show featured my programme for primary schools as part of the solution to the decline in families giving consent to organ donation in the UK., which has fallen by 5% since 2021. But this was just one school—only 23,000 more to go in the UK!
Time and time again, it has been proven that one of the biggest deciding factors between those who donate and those who do not comes down to whether they’ve simply talked about organ donation with their loved ones (even just once) before they (or their loved one) pass on. The earlier these conversations happen within families, the better.
From our research through our partnering countries, families are far more willing to participate in these conversations when they are first raised by their children. With this in mind, empowering educators to further empower their students to know and talk about organ donation also has the potential to capture a considerably larger and influential audience and make an unprecedented impact, an impact that could be measured by NHSBT too.
Organ transplantation and donation were not included in the government’s health education mandate in the UK for primary schools in 2020. Why? Preventive healthcare starts with knowing how your organs and body work. It shouldn’t be an afterthought or done as a separate health programme; it’s part and parcel of their health conversation. Transplantation is a medical fact, regardless of our beliefs; and organ donation is a choice regardless of the change in laws. This demand is also not going away any time soon; chronic disease and obesity in children have been on the rise for some time now.
If you’re a parent or policymaker as concerned as we are, or as Jamie Oliver is about all the sugar in our children’s diets, then I’m sure you’ll appreciate your child knowing how their pancreas works so they can be better captains of their own health.
If you’re a parent or policymaker as concerned as we are, or as Jamie Oliver is about all the sugar in our children’s diets, then I’m sure you’ll appreciate your child knowing how their pancreas works so they can be better captains of their own health.
This is why I created the Orgamites Mighty Education Programme, a FREE global organ donation and health education programme for children aged 5-11. It uses educational resources, tools, toys, and tech to inspire and equip more students, teachers, and families everywhere to talk more about organ donation, and to take better care of their bodies, each other, and our world.
Brought to life by a team of life-saving organs found in each one of us, the Orgamites are also known as the ‘mighty organs’ because they represent the organs most needed for donation and transplantation. Focused on empowering children (via the grown-ups in their lives) to become captains of their own health, the Programme also aims to help address some of the most critical health crises facing the next generation.
To reach 24,000 schools across the UK and maintain our FREE education programme, we need your help! If you’re a brand or organisation interested in children’s health education, please get in touch at: Orgamites.com
Thank you to Dr Luke Yates for sharing his personal story and views, and to the BBC One Show for featuring the Orgamites in their coverage.
Thank you,
Roydon Turner Founder & CCO
More info: The Orgamites and the Orgamites Mighty Education Programme were created by Roydon Turner. Creative and production by All Good Co., a Community Interest Company (AllGoodCo.org).
Our partners include Live Life Give Life, the Onassis Foundation, Canadian Blood Services, Team Margot, Giving to Help Others, Northern Ireland Donation, the Public Health Agency, the British Transplant Society, and the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT).
Supported by NHS Blood and Transplant, Organ Donation England, Wales, and Scotland. Official partner of the ESOT Congress in London, 2025
*This approach has been validated through feedback and data gathered from our existing partners: Canadian Blood Services and Onassis Foundation (Greece), and Northern Ireland.
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]]>ORGTOBER TO LAUNCH IN CANADA IN 2024!
Thanks to our partners Canadian Blood Services, Canada is set to join the UK by introducing ‘Orgtober’ to the school calendar in 2024.
Orgtober, formerly known as October, will be sweeping into primary school classrooms and calendars across the country. While the normal education curriculum will not be affected, this supplementary campaign seeks to breathe new life into organ donation education by: starting earlier, getting more families talking, celebrating the fundamental values that underpin organ donation (kindness, compassion and inclusivity), and having loads of fun while doing all of this!
Initiated by the Orgamites, the only global organ donation awareness programme of its kind, Orgtober’s mission is this: to make kids everywhere more aware of their amazing organs, then get more families talking about organ donation, and thereby, increase the amount of organs donors in the long term which will ultimately save countless more lives.
Through a range of free, fun, and interactive educational toolkits and other resources that kids can take home, students learn all about their organs, as well as why and how to take better care of their bodies, and why and how kindness really counts.
“Having already found its way into thousands of students’ classrooms in Canada, Greece and the UK, with plans to launch across the USA and Australia later this year, Orgtober in Canada will help lead the way. Together, we hope to raise much-needed awareness that will ultimately raise the numbers of lives saves – both here in the UK and globally.” says Orgamites founder, Roydon Turner.
Below, Roydon answers some of the big questions that might arise:
Why is this a critical issue to highlight?
“Because too many people (especially children) die waiting for an organ. Despite the opt-in or opt-out laws, the number of families agreeing to organ donation has dipped for the first time in 8 years. The primary reason given for declining donations is families not knowing what their loved one would have wanted. One conversation can change all that. But raising these kinds of conversations is easier said than done – that’s where Orgtober comes in!”
Why talk to kids?
“Because children tend to wait two and a half times longer than adults for organs they need – and many die waiting. In the UK, of those on waiting lists presently, over 200 are children and babies with various life-threatening conditions whose only chance of survival is an organ transplant. Though the law around organ donation has changed, families will still always be consulted. This means that child organ donations are reliant on parents at their most anguished moments, being able to rationally process a request for their child’s organs. This is the worst possible time to first be confronted with the option of organ donation.”
As one parent shares, “The first time I contemplated child organ donation was when the Doctor came into the room where I was holding her. To be asked at that time for a donation was extremely traumatic and whilst I understand the need to ask for medical purposes, it was the wrong time to be my first contemplation of the topic. From that experience, I fully appreciate why parents say no. The moment of loss being the first time to contemplate child organ donation is simply too difficult. That moment would be easier and would see higher rates of consent if the notion of “what would we do if…” was already a seed of thought in the minds of parents. Had I considered organ donation prior, that moment would have been far easier to say yes to.”
Roydon’s final words:
“Quite simply, starting conversations sooner, saves lives. By highlighting the importance of organ donation, and by encouraging more people to consider registering as organ donors, we hope to create a worldwide movement that will impact generations to come and save countless lives too.”
More about the Orgamites:
The Orgamites education programme in primary schools has been positively received by both children and teachers in all three countries it has been implemented in. Our feedback has shown that after receiving organ donation education at school, students report a significant increase in family conversations at home around organ transplants and donations, their health and the environment. Furthermore, teachers who were initially hesitant about teaching younger children about organ donation have found the programme to be fun, enlightening, and a valuable addition to the curriculum.
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