On 7 and 8 June 2019, 17 representatives of the University of Economics in Bratislava took part in a volunteer event organized as part of the 13th year of the project Our City – The Days of Volunteering organized by the Pontis Foundation. An attractive event not only fulfilled its primary mission to help revitalize the environment in Petržalka, but it also played an important role in terms of education and training, as it represented a model for participating pupils, kindergartners and their parents, teachers, school management, and, additionally, personified its dissemination role in society as it was carried out in the vicinity of the University of Economics in Bratislava. Both days, the volunteer activities took place in Petržalka's exteriors, in areas full of greenery and high concentration of inhabitants great diversity.
On Friday, 7 June 2019, from 9:00 to 13:00, the team composed of Gabriela Dubcová, Ľubica Foltínová, Dana Hrušovská, Jakub Kintler (all from the Department of Business Economy) and Natália Tarišková (from the Department of Management) jointly contributed to the revitalization of the athletic stadium at Turnianska 10 Primary School in Petržalka. The Vice-Rector Zuzana Juhászová (who represented the Faculty of Economic Informatics) and students Alexandra Gaherová and Tomáš Mazán (Faculty of National Economy) also joined this group on Friday.
On Saturday, June 8, 2019, at the same time, in the kindergarten area of Haanova 9, nine volunteers cleaned the both exterior and interior of the kindergarten. Katarína Grančičová, Norika Grisáková with her daughter, Daniela Rybárová and Slávka Šagátová from the Department of Business Economy and Zuzana Joniaková from the Department of Management carried out the works. Peter Markovič (the dean of the Faculty of Business Management and a representative of the Department of Corporate Finance), Peter Leško from the Faculty of National Economy and students Miroslav Nguyen and Radka Repiská joined them later.
The joint effort to contribute to the good cause, the willingness to sacrifice time and a few meters of "clean clay, playground or windows" were both a motivation and a promise to continue this tradition in the future. The University of Economics and its organizers from the Faculty of Business Management (at this event chairwoman of the Ethics Committee, Gabriela Dubcová as an excellent "Event Creative Manager"), became the leader in volunteer activities from all universities and faculties not only in Bratislava but also in the whole of Slovakia.
Great thanks, in particular, goes to the Rector of the University of Economics, Prof. Ferdinand Daňo, who very flexibly supported the organization and engagement of the University of Economics in Bratislava in the initiative Our City and on Friday. The rector was directly represented at the event with enthusiasm by the vice-rector Assoc. Prof. Zuzana Juhászová. Thanks also goes to the dean of the Faculty of Business Management Prof. Peter Markovič, who became a Saturday’s volunteer model, as he participated in the revitalization activities of the kindergarten in Haanova 9.
Finally, our team of volunteers is grateful to the main organizer of the initiative, the Pontis Foundation for the time, energy and effort they have invested for the 13th time in the preparation and excellent realization of this attractive event. We are looking forward to further activities of the project Our City – The Days of Volunteering in 2020. As an authentic documentation of the friendly and motivating atmosphere we attach the photos and testimonials of our volunteers:
7 June 2019, Elementary School Turnianska 10 in Petržalka:
... a pleasant atmosphere, a piece of work done, strengthening inter-faculty and inter-departmental relationships with colleagues. Thank you for a pleasant morning. Danka, FPM
People who work intellectually should rest with physical work (as my father used to say). And when you throw in a pleasant day with colleagues, the feeling of a well done work is twice as pleasant. Zuzka, Rectorate
Today was an extraordinary day for me in that I could (with pleasure) help those who need it and at the same time spend pleasant moments with enthusiastic colleagues to do something extra for a good thing. I was pleasantly surprised by how many people took part in the activity Our City. I am always pleased to see people who are not indifferent to the environment in which they live, in which they spend their free time and who care about the environment where children are educated. Thank you all, dear colleagues, for your personal support for this event, as well as for the pleasant moments spent outside the EUBA. Ľubka, FPM
... a unique activity with great people in the refreshing Petržalka greenery for the benefit of the pupils of the elementarty school in Turnianska 10, Petržalka, EUBA, our students and teachers. I strongly recommend—come with us to Our City 2020. Gabriela, FPM
The event “My heart in the right place” brought me the opportunity to participate in great activities together with my friends and teachers from our university while we were able to work in a non-traditional atmosphere together on something other than tests or credits. We could get involved in the renewing of the running track and see the result of our work at the end of the event in the form of an improved section of the running track. I regard this type of events positively and I believe that we will be able to participate in other similar activities in the future. Tomáš, NHF
The event Our City reminded me once again how great volunteering is and that it can also be a good teambuilding. It was a very nice day and I would be happy, if I could participate next year. Alexandra, NHF
Volunteering is not about doing what you have to but what you want to ... and my desire was also influenced by the fact that the collegiality of relationships in volunteering develops in a direction that it seldom takes in a standard working environment. Natália, FPM
A beneficial activity for the community with a positive impact on the psyche and physical fitness of volunteers. Lots of fun in the sun, in the air and in collaboration with nice colleagues, an ideally spent working day on holiday. Jakub, FPM
8 June 2019, Kindergarten Haanova 9:
I feel good about being useful and able to help where necessary. I recommend that to all. Katka, FPM
Having a heart in the right place and, last but not least, in the right city doesn't sound like a cliché. In everyday stress we somehow forget that we have started somewhere; kindergarten and primary school may not have been our favourite destinations, but we have been given care that has shown us the way of life. It is time to repay the debt and at the same time thank all those who continue to do this, despite the difficult conditions. With respect and pure intentions, thank you. Peter, FPM
Saturday's volunteering activity was an experience of working together, delightful for the soul to help others, and the joy for the body from the fresh air and physical activity. Slávka, FPM
Pleasant change that refreshed the body and ‘caressed’ the soul. Daniela, FPM
Pleasant morning spent with nice people helping to others. I wish the kindergarten a lot of success and happy children in the refurbished yard. Norika, FPM
... I regard the Saturday’s volunteering activity very positively. It was organized on a professional level, a lot of work has been done and I am already looking forward to the next year, where I expect a greater involvement of the EUBA staff. Peter L., NHF
First of all, I would like to thank you very much for the great participation, organization and all the stuff related to this volunteering activity. It was a wonderful time for all of us spent in a wonderful environment that we had the opportunity to improve. I personally really appreciate it, and now I cannot wait to see how kindergartners will be happy tomorrow when they see their little bit more beautiful and colourful kindergarten. I take it as a very nice experience and above all I appreciate that I could help at least like this. Radka, FPM
It was a great time with great people who were happy to do a lot of work. Hats off to all participants and organizers. I highly recommend it to everyone. Zuzanka, FPM
I'm glad I attended and could help the kids in the kindergarten to beautify the playground. And overall, the atmosphere was very pleasant. Mirko, NHF
