Impact Talks: With a New Generation Come New Perspectives on Philanthropy

The choice of the venue was intentional. The legendary Evangelical Lyceum in Bratislava has educated students in philosophy, theology, and law for over two hundred years, and was once attended by Milan Rastislav Štefánik and members of the Štúrovci movement. After a sensitive restoration, the previously deteriorating building has been transformed into a unique space for dialogue, free thinking, creativity, and both modern and classical culture. This fusion of history and contemporary trends permeated the evening’s discussions, under the theme “New Generation in Philanthropy.” 

Within the former school’s setting, discussions about education came naturally. Support for education was a key topic in the initial discussion on helping others, highlighted by Andrea Basilová, co-founder of the smart waste management startup Sensoneo, and Peter Džupa, co-owner of the family dental clinic Petramed. 

When Activities Benefit Both the Community and Business

For both speakers, philanthropy in its various forms is an integral part of their business. “I see education as significantly under-resourced,” A. Basilová stated, explaining her commitment to supporting young people in their studies and entrepreneurial pursuits. As a parent, she sees gaps in the school system, and as a co-founder of a global company with clients ranging from Madrid to Saudi Arabia to Buenos Aires, she now has the means to address these gaps in meaningful ways. Among other roles, she has served as a mentor in the former Generation 3.0 program, which focused on introducing innovative educational approaches into Slovak schools. 

The question of when Andrea Basilová helps as an individual and when she helps from the position of the company is clear to her: “I cannot separate these; there’s always a personal dimension, and I can’t imagine it any other way. It’s more a response to what I observe, what I perceive as urgent, and what resonates with me.” 

In the first discussion, we welcomed Andrea Basilová, co-founder of the Sensoneo startup, and Petr Džupa, co-owner of the Petramed family dental clinic.

Peter Džupa’s name is associated not only with his work as a dentist but, more importantly, with educating dentists in management and business skills. His father founded a dental clinic in the Kysuce region, which is also known for its altruistic activities for the community. For seven years, the clinic has collaborated with the Diocesan Charity in Žilina, providing free dental care to people in difficult life situations. To mark its thirtieth anniversary, the clinic hosted a Health Festival, offering lectures and opportunities for visitors to exercise, have their birthmarks checked, or have a dental check-up. “Doing things that benefit the community feels natural and also benefits the business after all,” says Peter Džupa, part of the second generation of the family business. After two festivals, he sees its main impact in connecting people and positively influencing the community. 

Helping Without Money

A trio of well-known media personas discussed the impact of social media on followers, particularly when it comes to meaningful topics, which they also focus on. The influencer community can leverage its influence over hundreds of thousands of followers in a meaningful way, using a modern language to bring the topic of philanthropy closer to a wider audience. 

Influencer Peter Altof, known as Explo, started as a teenager commenting on video games on YouTube and posting photos of classmates and food on Instagram. He admits that with more followers came a greater awareness of his influence. “I take it seriously,” he says about his posts, which now address important topics like mental health and bullying. Every Sunday, he also volunteers, serving food to people experiencing homelessness. 

“It’s important to choose two or three projects that I trust.”
  Zuzana Vačková 

Host and moderator Matej Cifra, known as Sajfa, says that social media require a responsible approach. This begins with carefully choosing the topics one wants to cover. “It’s not okay for a public figure to spread themselves too thin, and it’s perfectly fine to decline requests for help if you want to focus on another topic this year,” he comments on the insistent requests for support that increase with a growing follower base. 

Actress Zuzana Vačková participates in public fundraising, supports children with autism, and helps people with mobility limitations create opportunities for sports. “For me, it’s important to choose two or three projects that I trust. If I’m asking people to open their wallets, I must lead by example,” she explains her approach to helping. Deciding where to invest her time, energy, and public presence is no easy task. “It makes it easier for me to turn down requests for help because I know I’m doing all I can,” she adds. 

The Best Results Come from Cooperation

Martina Kolesárová, Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation, praised new approaches to helping. She also included the expat community –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ successful Slovak professionals abroad –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the next generation of philanthropy. “We believe that the best outcomes always come from collaboration. Lasting change can only happen when we work together, support one another, and combine both traditional and modern approaches,” she conveyed one of the key messages of the evening. 

Impact Talks is a series of informal discussion evenings about philanthropic stories, social innovations, and strategic views on helping, brought to you by the Pontis Foundation since 2020.  

Read also about the previous topics of Impact Talks:

• Civic Society and Philanthropy 
• Women and Philanthropy 
• Family and Philanthropy   
• Art and Philanthropy 
• Law and Philanthropy   
• Paths of Philanthropy   
• Science and Philanthropy