Volunteering persists in Slovakia, despite the challenges of pandemic

Volunteering still lacks the prestige it enjoys in more western countries.

Sewing and distributing face masks was one of the most frequent volunteering activities during the first wave of the pandemic. Sewing and distributing face masks was one of the most frequent volunteering activities during the first wave of the pandemic. (Source: TASR)

A homemade protective mask was the first symbol of the coronavirus pandemic in Slovakia and its success in countering the first wave in the spring.

Related articleFirms' social responsibility activities targeted problems presented by Covid Read more 

Sewing and distributing face masks, a scarce commodity in March and April 2020, was indeed one of the most frequent activities people in Slovakia engaged in as part of the solidarity and volunteering efforts that characterised that time. Volunteers also shopped for vulnerable people or those in quarantine. Others opted for volunteering at testing sites, while those with IT skills helped teachers prepare online lessons.

"In the last 30 years, Slovakia has not experienced such a volume of spontaneous volunteering compressed into a relatively short period of time,“ said Zuzana Vinklerová from CARDO - the National Volunteering Centre.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Get daily Slovak news directly to your inbox

Top stories

Illustrative stock photo

News digest: Pfizer and Moderna jabs now available to a younger age group in Slovakia

Former health minister Krajčí commented on the Sputnik V contract. Carmakers still affected by the lack of components.

11 h
Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollár, President Zuzana Čaputová and Prime Minister Eduard Heger, from left after signing the a letter accompanying Slovakia’s recovery plan.

Slovakia sent its 600-page plan to Brussels on becoming a better country

Only the next government will harvest the fruits of the planned reforms.

16 h
President Zuzana Čaputová appointed new SIS director Michal Aláč on May 6.

Intelligence agency has a new director

President Zuzana Čaputová appoints Michal Aláč to lead the SIS.

18 h
Juraj Šeliga

Šeliga leaves the deputy parliament’s speaker post after violating curfew rules

The politician was in a café after 21:00. His party colleague Jana Žitňanská drew consequences, too.

5. máj