Dr Martin Pekarčík helped deliver children at the hospital in Kenya, among other activities. (source: Archive of Martin Pekarčík)
Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
The Slovak doctor also helped secure the hospital's water supply
Martin Pekarčík from Trstená, in northern Slovakia, recently spent a month among the Pokot people, in rural Kenya.
He worked as a doctor in the hospital in the small town of Tikit, which has been restored thanks to another Slovak, Katarína Mulama, who is from Rabča, a small village in northern Slovakia not far from Trstená. At the same time, he collected and digitised data that should help the local hospital in the future, the regional newspaper MY Orava reported.
Among the most important projects he helped with was the introduction of a kilometre-long solar water supply system that supplies the hospital. He worked on it with Katarína's husband, Andrew Mulama. Thanks to the new water supply system, the local people can grow fruit and vegetables and learn to cultivate the soil. In the hospital, the water is used in the labs, examination rooms, kitchen and other rooms.
“Without water, it was difficult for them to live there; they had a very bad harvest, nearly everything had dried up,” Pekarčík told MY Orava. “They used to draw water from a nearby well to the hospital, but it broke down a while ago, so they had really big problems.”
Pekarčík has been continuing to help the locals since his return. For example, he helped raised money to build a new kitchen in the hospital. He also received the 2023 Srdce na Dlani (Heart-in-Hand) award, in the Volunteer Helping Abroad category, MY Orava reported.
New inhabitants in Slovakia’s zoos
Two of Slovakia’s zoos have recently welcomed new additions.
In Bojnice, two young male South African sable antelopes were born in late January and early February. They were named Fafa and Enitan.
“The little ones are doing great and making the caretakers happy,” the zoo wrote on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the zoo in Košice, in eastern Slovakia, welcomed a group of Prevost’s squirrels, also known as Asian tri-coloured squirrels, a colourful species of rodent that can be found in southeast Asian countries.
“This type of squirrel is active during the day, mostly in the morning and early evening,” the zoo wrote on Facebook, adding that even though they eat a variety of plant food and insects, their favourite is ripe fruit. After eating the soft flesh, they often throw away the stones, and thus play an important role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers.
A special delivery from Buckingham Palace
Nine-year-old Martin received a letter from Buckingham Palace. (source: Mária Hronská)
Martin, a nine-year old from Bratislava, recently received a special letter.
Last year, he was so amazed by the coronation of British King Charles III that he decided to send him a picture he had drawn, accompanied by a letter. The picture featured the Westminster parliament clock tower known as Big Ben, with planes flying above it and emitting smoke in the colours of the British flag, the TVnoviny.sk website reported.
A few days ago, he received a reply, dated 21 March and signed by James Dawson, head of royal correspondence for King Charles.
“Martin was very surprised and delighted that he received a reply to his letter, even though he didn’t ask for one,” Martin’s mother told TV Noviny.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
Lucia Janičová, a 37-year old Slovak scientist currently living in the UK, is hoping to be the first Slovak woman to climb Mount Everest.
Michal Rázus is a professional genealogist. One experience that pushed him towards his future career came when he helped a Californian native search for his Slovak ancestors.
Searching for a hike in the Tatras that can take up to three hours and is suitable for children in a stroller? Our colleague has a tip for you.
A new place for coffee lovers will open in Bratislava in the autumn: the Romanian coffee chain, 5 to go.
As anyone who has ever attempted to speak a foreign language knows, even after you have mastered the basics, the little things are still going to get you.
Political meme of the week
Victory (source: SME/Mikuláš Sliacky)
The result of Saturday's presidential election has, as one might expect, prompted a flurry of memes. This cartoon, by Mikuláš Sliacky, alludes to the victory of Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini, who, it implies, is being directed by Prime Minister Robert Fico (who decisively supported him in the election, despite have once branded him a "traitor" after he split from Fico's Smer party in 2020) – and suggesting that Fico, who frequently repeats the Russian government's false talking points about Ukraine (for example, characterising the Kyiv government as "Nazi"), is in turn controlled by President Vladimir Putin.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
