From the beginning of the war in Ukraine, we have seen a huge wave of solidarity and good. People have created a lot of diverse projects to help and integrate people from Ukraine to Slovak communities and to help them create or find a new home.
These initiatives, activities and diverse projects had various lengths, they've connected various sectors and affected various number of people. Some of them are still active today.
We've decided to Inspire Good by Good and to:
- map these initiatives,
- choose 5 diverse projects from various areas in Slovakia,
- bring the best activities to light, by creating videos and sharing them on our social media profiles.
This preliminary year of Committed Communities is not a competition, rather presentation and appreciation of inspiring activities that are connecting people fleeing from Ukraine to existing Slovak communities.
We believe that Committed Communities will be an inspiration for those, that are only starting with interesting activities to support communities and want to learn new information, get bravery and vision.
In September 2022, Saša started a community activity of knitting camouflage nets in Piešťany. Women who came to the city as refugees from Ukraine meet here. Ukrainian women have their families, husbands, or sons still in Ukraine.
The material aid center in Banská Bystrica was created as an voluntary initiative in response to the escalation of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The civic association Ukrainský dom (Ukrainian House) in Žilina was created as a quick response to the needs of people fleeing from Ukraine. There were hundreds of refugees every day. For some, it provided accommodation directly in a small house in the center of Žilina on the first floor. The house was named Ukrainian House.
In Trenčín, people around Danka Vániová fulfill the very important role of an integration center, which is also supported by the local government. As part of the Activity Cultural Center, they activated volunteers and have been trying to organize meaningful activities and raise money for them. They helped to hundreds of Ukrainian families who came to Trenčín because of the war with accommodation, material stuff, activities for children and adults, language courses and consultations.
Medulienka has been operating in Levice for more than 20 years. It has been actively working with the youngest children up to six years old for a long time. When Russia attacked Ukraine and the first emigrants started arriving in the Levice region, they decided to help spontaneously. It was natural, because mainly women with children came from Ukraine and often knocked on the door of the the center asking for help.
