Our City: Nearly 10 Thousand Volunteers Worked for a Better Slovakia

The largest volunteer event, Our City, brought help to 42 towns and villages across Slovakia. Corporate employees swapped their work duties for painting fences, renovating school grounds and nature trails, helping in senior homes, and beautifying parks. This year, 9,600 volunteers participated. 

For 18 years, Our City has been connecting companies with civic organizations, schools, and local institutions. Thousands of volunteers came to help beautify and improve spaces that serve us all. “Companies ‘lend’ their people for the benefit of the public for a day. Employees not only help a good cause but also actively relax, build team relationships, discover new places, and leave with a sense of altruistic achievement,” said Michal Kišša, Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation. 

A record of 203 companies participated in the largest corporate volunteer event in Central Europe, including many newcomers. “Our City is a gateway to corporate volunteering, so we are pleased that 39 companies tried it for the first time this year,” added Michal Kišša. 

Premiere for Čičmany and Špania Dolina

Enthusiasts participated in more than 500 beneficial activities from Snina to Stupava. Our City came to several new locations. In the tourist-attractive village of Špania Dolina, volunteers helped to tidy up the area around the entrance to the mining tunnel. For the first time, the Čičmany village joined Our City, appreciating volunteer help in beautifying public spaces and painting bus stops, benches, and the village gate. 

In Bratislava, the National Oncology Institute joined the event for the first time, where volunteers beautified the hospital park. In Snina, they repaired kennels at the Chlpáčik civic association shelter, and in Nitra, they organized a charitable mini-market for the Family Day. 

A Unique Human Chain at Biely Kameň Castle

During Our City, volunteers cleaned the shores of the Ružín reservoir and the Little Danube in Bratislava’s Vrakuňa from boats. In the former Pálffy County Garden in Bratislava, they collected waste from the picturesque avenue lined with two-hundred-year-old horse chestnuts. In the Čermeľ Valley near Košice, they cleared weeds out of the popular children’s railway track. 

Dozens of skilled hands also contributed to saving cultural monuments. Zoborský skrášľovací spolok (Zobor Beautification Association) in Nitra welcomed helpers in cleaning the ruins of the oldest Benedictine monastery. They also participated in the restoration of 12 castles across Slovakia – from Biely Kameň in Svätý Jur to Hanigovský Castle in the Sabinov district. The highlight was the longest “human chain” in the four-year history of the restoration of Biely Kameň Castle, formed by nearly 50 people. Passing stones hand-to-hand, they transported up to four tons of material. 

The largest volunteer activities focused on enhancing urban spaces, transforming them into welcoming areas. “This year, our employees also joined the Our City initiative. They were eager to help directly in the city districts where our stores are located. It’s always very motivating to see the results of one’s work,” said David Kolář, Marketing Director for Hornbach Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 

CEOs Also Contributed

This year, company directors also lent a helping hand. Several CEOs headed to the Hojdana family center in Bratislava, which creates a safe space for families with children. Company leaders beautified the area certified as a “Natur im Garten” natural garden. It is the only public garden with this title in the capital. 

What They Said about Our City  

“The Our City event is an annual wonderful activity where companies can experience a different world than the corporate one. It’s an opportunity for people, often overwhelmed with daily duties, to take a break and help where needed.” 

Zuzana Guller, company volunteer 

“Active volunteers participated in sport competitions, helped paint pictures with the residents, played board games, or read from fairy tale books. Despite having no prior experience with such work, they performed excellently. We had a beautiful day full of laughter and fun. We agreed on future cooperation, and the volunteers expressed interest in visiting our facility again.” 

Viktória Sendlaiová, Prosocia Hurbanovo 

“The family center operates solely thanks to volunteers, so all the mothers and fathers who help here do so voluntarily. Our spaces are extensive, not only the building but also the large garden, and we cannot manage it on our own. Therefore, we greatly appreciate when people come to help, whether through Our City or other volunteer activities.” 

Petra Ježeková, activity coordinator at Hojdana Family Center 

“It’s a great event. I talk to people and have a good guide. We went for ice cream, so I really enjoyed it. And what would I say to the volunteers? Don’t give up. Make the elderly happy. Such events are precious to us.” 

Viera Fialová, senior home client 

“The project Cycling Without Age has been under our patronage in Slovakia since 2016. It is entirely based on volunteers. Our City is an excellent way to reach volunteers, give them a chance to contribute to the project, and bring seniors the joy of wind in their hair.” 

Dan Kollár, Cycling Coalition Civic Association 

“We are participating in Our City for the first time and are very glad to help directly in the area where our company operates. We are weeding gardens, cutting, painting, repairing benches – various jobs that help the school. Volunteering is significant not only for those who receive but also for those who give. We will gladly join this event again.” 

Jana Bulková, corporate volunteer 

9,600 People with Their Heart in the Right PLACE

Our City is the largest corporate volunteering event in Central Europe. This year, it was held for the eighteenth time, with 9,600 volunteers involved in 42 towns and villages across Slovakia. They helped 251 civic organizations, low-threshold centers, as well as schools, kindergartens, senior homes, and other facilities. 

Corporate volunteers were easily recognized in their typical white T-shirts with the slogan “My Heart is in the Right PLACE,” created by Slavomír Artim, who works under the pseudonym Dyslektik. 

The inspiration for Our City was the New York Cares event, during which thousands of New Yorkers jointly clean and improve their city. 

You can view the photos from Our City in our gallery on Facebook.