THE DIVÉ Maky / Wild Poppies civic association trains and educates talented, young Roma and helps them to find a place on the labour market. Each year, it organises a summer academy, an intensive training and rehearsal, which culminates in the Gypsy Bashavelin, a traditional festival during which the young Roma present what they have learned.
However, this year the summer academy – already in its seventh year - is threatened by a lack of funding, and 60 children eager to show their talents and newly-earned skills could be disappointed. The Komunitná nadácia Bratislava (Bratislava Community Foundation) is launching the annual Duck Competition project in which people can adopt small plastic ducks for €3 each, and in 2013, it selected Divé maky as one of five organisations to benefit from the purchase of these ducks.
So people who want to help the Divé maky’s summer academy can buy a duck either in advance, or directly during the “duck race” that will take place in the Bratislava Čunovo Wildwater complex on June 30, and mark Divé maky as a recipient in the list of organisations. Those who buy a duck can also win one of the prizes listed at www.pretekykacic.sk. The site also includes more information (in Slovak).
