Volunteers attending Naše Mesto. (source: TASR)
The event, organised by Pontis Foundation and Engage, will take place in 20 towns on June 12 and 13. The organisers offer 500 activities joined by employees of companies as well as the public.
“The interest in volunteering activities is increasing every year,” Monika Smolová, programme director of Pontis Foundation, said in the press release, adding that this proves that people care about the town they live in.
The volunteers will, for example, help with removing illegal waste dumps, tidy-up parks, repair children’s playgrounds and castle ruins, paint classrooms at schools, and help people in need.
“One of the most frequent reasons why volunteers participate in activities is that somebody asks them for help,” Smolová said, adding that the activities are prepared by non-governmental organisations and public-service institutions which would not have realised them without help of volunteers.
The event will be attended by 80 companies. Aside from Bratislava, the volunteering activities will be held in Žilina, Košice, Galanta, Sereď, Šaľa, Spišská Nová Ves, Partizánke, Poprad, Trnava, Prievidza and surrounding villages, Želiezovce, Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Zlaté Moravce, Trenčín, Nitra, Hlohovec, Stupava, Svätý Jur, Pezinok, Hurbanovo, Levice, Nováky, Veľké Kapušany, Topoľčianky, Žiar nad Hronom, Senec, and Banská Štiavnica.
Along with employees, also CEOs of the participating firms will attend the special event during which they will counsel Zuzana Wienk of ethics watchdog Fair-Play Alliance and Martina Bodnárová of SuperTrieda. The aim is to offer to the NGOs another view of their work and use their experience, talent, and know-how. Pontis Foundation will, for the first time, bring the methodology of the accelerator already tried by Ashoka.
