Mid-term Workshop / Programme – Day 1

Drawing on Cesta von’s experience of working alongside marginalised Roma communities, Pavel will explore how leadership, vision and organisational building can change society. Participants will leave with practical principles for building sustainable social innovations. Cesta von’s long-term model offers a particularly relevant example: its programmes combine work with community members, investment in local leadership, cross-sector partnerships, evidence and policy engagement rather than treating individual projects as isolated interventions.

Pavel Hrica is the Executive Director of Cesta von, where he leads long-term work with marginalised Roma communities aimed at breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he focuses on how organisations can combine community trust and participation with strategic planning, resilient teams, partnerships and advocacy for lasting change.

LinkedIn Pavel Hrica

The workshop introduces the basics of community organising: what it is, and how it differs from service delivery, community development and advocacy. Participants will do a short self-reflection exercise on these four approaches, then walk through the community organising cycle step by step. Using a simple self-assessment tool, participants will map where their own initiative currently stands in a few key areas and name one they want to strengthen. The session combines short input, two brief individual exercises and space for group discussion.

Maroš Chmelík is the Executive Director of the Centre for Community Organising (CKO) in Slovakia, with 13 years of experience in community organising, including co-founding the regional initiative Not In Our Town (Nie v našom meste) in the Banská Bystrica Region, the Humanity (Ľudskosť) platform and its festival in Zvolen, and a national-level Coalition for accessible and dignified housing. This year together with the CKO team he launched the first cohort of the Academy of Community Organising, whose cycle and tools form the basis of this workshop.

LinkedIn Maroš Chmelík

The workshop will cover a modular pitch deck, effective ways to introduce yourself and practical techniques for communicating ideas with confidence. Drawing on best practices from TED and TEDx, it will show how strong storytelling can make a pitch more memorable and persuasive.

Mathias Haas is a public speaking coach, university lecturer and founder of SuperSocial, specialising in storytelling, pitching and digital communication. As the curator of TEDxDonauinsel and a lecturer at several universities, he helps people transform complex ideas into compelling presentations.

LinkedIn Mathias Haas

Growth often requires organisations to change how they work, collaborate and make decisions. These changes can bring new opportunities, but also uncertainty and resistance. In this workshop, participants will examine the human side of organisational change and learn to recognise what people need in order to move forward. Using the ADKAR model, they will gain a practical tool for leading internal change more effectively.

Jana Bernaťáková is a change facilitator specialising in the human side of organisational change. She helps leaders and organisations understand resistance, build trust and create the conditions for people to move through change with greater clarity, engagement and commitment.

LinkedIn Jana Bernaťáková

This practical workshop will begin with a simulated conversation with someone with whom we disagree on value-based issues. Participants will then examine the most and least effective strategies, the circumstances in which such dialogue is possible and when it makes sense. The session will also draw lessons from people who have managed such conversations well.

Lukáš Zorád is the Director of Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia (PDCS), a trainer and facilitator. He has been active in civil society since 2006. After beginning his career in environmental education and nature conservation, he spent six years working on development initiatives in Kenya, Tanzania and South Sudan, where he gained practical experience in bringing divided communities together. Since returning to Slovakia in 2016, he has managed numerous projects focused on the prevention of extremism and depolarisation, organised five international Civic Actors in Conflicts conferences and worked with civil society organisations across Slovakia and Europe.

LinkedIn Lukáš Zorád

Meeting every potential donor face to face would be ideal, but it is not possible, and email is the next best thing. Used well, it can be the single most powerful fundraising channel available to a small or medium-sized NGO. The workshop will cover how to grow a supporter database, write emails that convert and turn one-time donors into recurring supporters. The approach runs counter to much conventional thinking about NGO email marketing and has been tested at ACN Slovensko and taught to fundraisers in Slovakia and internationally.

Dominik Harman is a former journalist, copywriter and marketing consultant who became a fundraiser. He has been Head of Fundraising at ACN Slovensko since 2019, where he increased individual donor revenue from €290,000 to €1.85 million, primarily through email. He has since shared this approach with fundraisers in Slovakia and internationally.

LinkedIn Dominik Harman

The workshop will cover a modular pitch deck, effective ways to introduce yourself and practical techniques for communicating ideas with confidence. Drawing on best practices from TED and TEDx, it will show how strong storytelling can make a pitch more memorable and persuasive.

Mathias Haas is a public speaking coach, university lecturer and founder of SuperSocial, specialising in storytelling, pitching and digital communication. As the curator of TEDxDonauinsel and a lecturer at several universities, he helps people transform complex ideas into compelling presentations.

LinkedIn Mathias Haas

Civil society organisations often assume that measuring impact requires resources or expertise they lack, so they postpone it indefinitely. Yet understanding your impact is what helps create lasting social change. This workshop shows that impact measurement is possible for any NGO and that the process itself can strengthen relationships with communities, donors and institutional partners while also improving processes within the organisation. Participants will learn how to set realistic expectations, choose first steps that match their capacity and build convincing analytical arguments even when data is limited. The key takeaway is a practical toolkit for turning impact measurement into manageable steps that support stronger social base building.

Binka has led multiple impact evaluations for the World Bank, the UK government and the Slovak government. After completing her studies at the University of Oxford, she co-founded Merit Institute, an impact evaluation initiative bringing international best practice to civil society and public institutions across Central and Eastern Europe.

LinkedIn Binka Ľubica Hamarová

Our world is in a state of polycrisis: multiple, interacting economic, geopolitical, climatic, technological, public health and democratic crises whose effects reinforce one another and make the future increasingly difficult to predict. This workshop explores the social and political consequences of contemporary uncertainty and discusses practical tools for responding to them.

Zsuzsanna Szelényi is a foreign policy specialist, author, former Member of the Hungarian Parliament and Founding Director of the CEU Democracy Institute Leadership Academy. Her research focuses on polarisation and autocratisation as threats to democracy and the future of the European Union.

LinkedIn Zsuzsanna Szelényi

Most nonprofits talk about themselves – their mission, projects and impact. The problem is that donors don't give to organisations. They give to feelings, values and a sense that their contribution matters. In this workshop, you'll explore what drives donor decisions, why one-time and recurring giving require different approaches, and why building long-term donor relationships is not only the right thing to do but also the smarter one, as retaining a recurring donor costs significantly less than finding a new one.

Zuzana Behríková is an expert in online fundraising and crowdfunding. She works at the Centre for Philanthropy, where she leads the DARUJME.sk and StartLab platforms. She has long been dedicated to advancing digital fundraising and strengthening the financial sustainability of nonprofit organisations, helping them engage donors more effectively, build public trust and translate fundraising strategy into practical, results-driven solutions.

Ivana Hollá is an online fundraising and crowdfunding expert at DARUJME.sk and StartLab, responsible for most of the platforms' educational activities, including webinars, guides and workshops for nonprofits across Slovakia. She specialises in translating fundraising strategy into communication that delivers measurable results, with a particular focus on recurring giving as the cornerstone of long-term financial sustainability for nonprofit organisations.

LinkedIn:

Zuzana Behríková

Ivana Hollá

Burnout can affect anyone, regardless of their role or experience. This interactive workshop helps participants understand what burnout is, recognise its early warning signs and identify practical steps to prevent it. Through self-reflection, discussion and evidence-based strategies, participants will explore ways to strengthen their wellbeing, build resilience and maintain a healthier relationship with work. They will leave with practical ideas and a personal action plan to support their long-term wellbeing.

With over 20 years of experience leading people, teams and HR functions across international organisations, Beáta specialises in burnout prevention, resilient leadership and building high-performing teams. She partners with organisations to foster psychological safety, strengthen team effectiveness and create cultures where people can thrive, perform at their best and sustain long-term success.

LinkedIn Beáta Mišlenská Machajdová

The visit will introduce the St Louise de Marillac Shelter, the only facility of its kind in Bratislava providing accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness with serious health conditions and care needs. Participants will learn about the challenges faced by this group, the multidisciplinary approach and the role of health and social services in improving quality of life and social inclusion. The hosts will also share practical experience and lessons learned from providing integrated care in a homelessness setting.

Michal Cibiri is the manager of the St Louise de Marillac Shelter in Bratislava. He brings hands-on experience of providing daily support and care to people experiencing homelessness with complex health and social needs.

Mariana Sýkorová works as a project manager at DePaul Slovakia. She is involved in implementing and coordinating projects aimed at improving services for people experiencing homelessness.

LinkedIn DePaul Slovakia

How to get there:

• Address: Jelenia 4, 811 05 Bratislava
• On foot: Approximately 4 minutes on foot from the hotel.

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During this study visit, participants will get an inside look at how Iniciatíva Inakosť – Slovakia’s leading LGBTI+ rights organisation – operates in one of the EU’s most challenging environments for LGBTI+ equality. The visit will introduce its three main areas of work: professional counselling through inPoradňa, strategic litigation and advocacy, and community building through the In community centre in Bratislava.

Participants will hear how the organisation designs and sustains services for people facing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, builds coalitions with civil society, institutions and businesses, and maintains organisational resilience under political pressure.

Iniciatíva Inakosť has defended the rights of LGBTI+ people in Slovakia since 2005, combining direct services, strategic litigation, public education and community building. Over the past two decades, it has supported more than a thousand people through its counselling centre, initiated landmark legal cases and established one of the country’s few dedicated LGBTI+ safe spaces.

LinkedIn Iniciatíva Inakosť

How to get there:

• Address: Záhradnícka 1, 811 07 Bratislava
• On foot: About an 18-minute walk from the hotel.
• By public transport: Take tram no. 1 from Pod stanicou to STU (2 stops), then walk for about 8 minutes. It takes 12 minutes in total.

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Participants will discover the history of the YMCA movement in Slovakia and take a guided tour of the YMCA Palace, a national cultural monument that has served as a community centre for more than a century. The visit will present how the YMCA helped shape social, educational, cultural and sporting life in Slovakia, together with stories of the people and activities connected with the building. You will also learn about a successful crowdfunding campaign focused on mobilising the community to support the restoration of the YMCA Palace's roof.

Daniela Masariková has worked with YMCA Slovakia since 2019 and has served as its Secretary General since 2023. She leads the national office of YMCA Slovakia, which owns the YMCA Palace, and represents the organisation nationally and internationally.

LinkedIn Daniela Masariková

How to get there:

• Address: Karpatská 2, 811 05 Bratislava
• On foot: About a 7-minute walk from the hotel.

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Participants will experience KASPIAN’s outreach social work directly in the local skatepark, where the organisation engages young people through participatory activities. The visit will introduce both street-based and club-based youth work.

KASPIAN will also share its experience of implementing an OSF-supported project during the COVID-19 pandemic and adapting its approach to unexpected challenges. The visit will offer practical inspiration on flexibility in crisis management, the importance of strong partnerships and maintaining organisational development in difficult times.

Marína Bartoňová is a therapeutic educator and Executive Director of KASPIAN. Her work focuses on the organisation’s strategic development, capacity building and key cross-sector partnerships. She draws on her experience in therapeutic education and leadership to develop sustainable programmes for young people and strengthen the organisation’s position within the social sector.

LinkedIn Marína Bartoňová

How to get there:

• Address: Kaspian Skatepark, Námestie republiky, 851 01 Bratislava
• By public transport: Tram no. 1 to Vysoká (3 stops), then tram no. 3 (the same direction) to Zrkadlový háj (8 stops) and then 4 minutes on foot. It takes 30 minutes in total.

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During the study visit, participants will learn how Stará jedáleň was created as a grassroots initiative by active neighbours and how this community-based beginning continues to shape its everyday life. The hosts will show how local residents and volunteers participate in the programme, decision-making and practical running of the centre, and how the organisation seeks to keep them motivated and engaged over time.

The visit will also address partnerships with other local actors as a form of mutual support rather than competition. The hosts will speak openly about the challenges and limits of neighbourhood engagement, including the need for clear roles, shared responsibility and long-term care for relationships.

Anna Karako leads Stará jedáleň, a neighbourhood community and cultural centre in Bratislava. Her work focuses on community programmes and volunteer engagement, with a strong emphasis on civic participation, active neighbours and long-term relationships within the local community.

How to get there:

• Address: Pekná cesta 3020, 831 52 Bratislava
• By public transport: Take bus/troleybuss no. 40, 61, 63, 64 or 71 from Pod stanicou to Račianske mýto, then change to tram no. 3 to Pekná cesta (9 stops). The venue is about a 7-minute walk from the tram stop. It takes 30 minutes in total.

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The visit will present WWF Slovakia’s model of working with communities and companies, treating corporate volunteering not merely as a team-building activity but as practical support for nature.

Participants will learn about field activities involving corporate volunteers, including riverbank clean-ups, tree planting and the restoration of agricultural landscapes. The session will also address cooperation with local authorities, farmers and landowners.

WWF Slovakia will present two fundraising campaigns: A Tree for Others, which supports the long-term protection of rare habitat trees, and Joining Forces for the Hron River, which built a community supporting the reconnection of a side arm to the main course of the River Hron.

Zuzana Sedláková is Engagement and Resource Mobilisation Director at WWF Slovakia, leading the organisation’s fundraising, communications and corporate cooperation. She provides strategic oversight of the Stronger Roots project Digital Connections for Nature, which focuses on building a loyal supporter community through digital infrastructure and personalised communication.

LinkedIn Zuzana Sedláková

How to get there:

• Address: Medená 10/5, 811 02 Bratislava
• On foot: About a 30-minute walk from the hotel.
• By public transport: Take tram no. 1 from Pod stanicou to Nám. Ľ. Štúra (7 stops). The venue is about a 1-minute walk from the tram stop. It takes 15 minutes in total.

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