Impact Summit 2024 Opened a Debate About Trust
For the second year, Impact Summit connected over 300 people from civil society, business, and public administration to seek out solutions for current societal issues. The event is organized by the Pontis Foundation and this year’s theme was trust. Among the speakers were Norwegian extremism expert and a survivor of Anders Breivik’s attack Bjørn Ihler, Swedish philanthropist Daniel Sachs, and Hungarian activist Veronika Móra, who defends organizations against Viktor Orbán’s regime. The summit took place on December 4.
According to multiple surveys, Slovakia has low levels of trust among people and towards our institutions. Reasons include the weakening position of institutions and growing societal polarization. However, for a society to successfully withstand crises, it must be united. This is why trust was the main topic of the second annual Impact Summit, organized by the Pontis Foundation.
The event welcomed more than 300 participants, from representatives of public administration and academia to business leaders and members of the nonprofit sector. Guests from Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia attended, alongside ambassadors from five countries.
Trust Despite Breivik’s Attack and Government Repression
Bjørn Ihler, a survivor of Anders Breivik’s attack on the Norwegian island of Utøya, was one of the keynote speakers of the summit. Facing death changed his life’s direction – he founded an organization dedicated to combating hate and engaging in conversations about the dangers of intolerance. Despite his traumatic experience, he has not lost faith in people and the world. At the event, he spoke about how to create space for dialogue in a divided society. “We all have a role to play in building a safer world for all. It starts with us,” he said, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the human value of our conversational opponents.
“We need to connect across sectors to counter terrorism.” Photo: Marek Mucha/Pontis Foundation
Another inspiring figure at the Impact Summit was Veronika Móra, director of the Ökotárs Foundation in Hungary. She played a key role in legal protection of NGOs from Viktor Orbán’s government repression. During a police raid on the foundation, Móra was even placed in handcuffs. “If you stay out of politics, you can live as you wish. But how you live depends on who you are,” she said, describing the situation in her home country. Recently, measures against civil society have also become a relevant issue in Slovakia. Móra shared insights on how society can learn from Hungary’s experiences, mobilize, and protect the nonprofit sector.
Taking Action Matters
A particularly powerful moment came from Ukrainian lawyer and activist Oleksandra Matviichuk. After Russia invaded Ukraine, she refused to leave. Together with her team, she witnessed the horrors in Irpin and Bucha firsthand. “It’s okay not to get used to atrocities. When we start accepting them as normal, we lose our humanity,” she said.
“Many of us ask ourselves whether we have anything to rely on in a world where we feel increasingly uncertain. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, which measures trust in institutions worldwide, people place the most trust in businesses and civil society organizations. They are the only institutions perceived as both competent and ethical. However, relying solely on business and nonprofits is not enough. We also need active people, experts, and professionals with strong values in state institutions and local governments,” said Martina Kolesárová, Executive Director of the Pontis Foundation.
The business sector at the Impact Summit was represented by Swedish entrepreneur Daniel Sachs, who frequently speaks about the need for companies to actively engage in society. He even supports political innovations in Europe himself. “Networking and cooperation are absolutely essential for strengthening trust in society,” Sachs said.
At the event, Hungarian media magnate Zoltán Varga, along with Czech and Slovak entrepreneurs Václav Muchna and Andrej Kiska Jr., explored the question: Does democracy need philanthropists?
At the Impact Summit, Daniel Sachs spoke about the moral responsibility of companies. Photo: Marek Mucha/Pontis Foundation
The Modern Face of Civil Society
White Crow Award recipient Tomáš Bálint, relationship education expert Zuzana Bendíková, and civic activist Zuzana Janíčková shared their experiences in the nonprofit sector, illustrating how individuals and organizations can contribute to rebuilding trust in society.
The Impact Summit also featured Pavol Kosnáč, director of the DEKK Institute, who exclusively presented the latest survey on trust in Slovakia. Academics Helena Tužinská and Juraj Buzalka analyzed the causes and consequences of polarization.
“Impact Summit provides a space to find solutions that can help heal our relationships—both among individuals and towards institutions. We believe this event serves as a platform for inspiration, dialogue, and forging alliances to build a stronger and more resilient society,” concluded M. Kolesárová.
Impact Summit is co-financed by the European Union.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
