Category: News

Some work in international organizations, others are launching their own startups or have extensive experience in the civic sector. What unites the participants of the #nextgen program is a strong motivation to address societal challenges and bring innovative, meaningful solutions.  

Slovakia is experiencing a noticeable outflow of young talents abroad. At the Pontis Foundation, we believe that listening to the voices of the new generation matters. Through the Impact Summit #nextgen, we aim to create a space for young people who have the potential to shape Slovakia’s future in the coming years. 

The goal of the #nextgen initiative is not only to build a network of ambassadors for key social topics that the Impact Summit addresses but also to create a database of potential future speakers. In the years to come, they may stand on the summit stage and share their perspective on the direction our country should take. 

The program is designed to support young people who want to channel their energy and ideas into improving quality of life in Slovakia. We searched for future leaders aged 18–35, who will receive free admission to the Impact Summit 2025, the opportunity to co-create the next edition, join a roundtable with the speakers, and network with people from business, public institutions, and the civic sector. 

They Chose Not to Give up on Slovakia  

“Sixty-five candidates submitted their applications, which far exceeded our expectations. We see it as a confirmation that young people are not indifferent to what is happening around them — they want to be part of it,” says #nextgen program consultant Petra Luptáková. She adds that candidates came from business, NGOs, and public administration — including both Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni and newly emerging talents. 

The selection committee — Martina Kolesárová (Co-CEO, Pontis Foundation), Norbert Maur (Senior Program Manager, Pontis Foundation), and Simona Kečkešová (PR Consultant, Grayling Slovakia) — noted that choosing only ten finalists was difficult due to the high quality of the applications. As a result, they decided to offer free Impact Summit entry to seventeen additional applicants beyond the #nextgen ten. 

“The applications reflected strong values and a thoughtful view of the world. More than once, we said to ourselves: we were not this mature at their age. Young people have our full admiration for what they have already achieved,” says P. Luptáková. 

In selecting the final ten, the committee considered how closely applicants align with the spirit of the summit, how participation could support their personal or professional growth, and their engagement in public life — especially in their local regions. They also looked at their ability to collaborate within their communities, inspire others, and involve new people. Balance across sectors was also taken into account. 

Introducing #nextgen 2025 

The younger generation faces unprecedented challenges, but also extraordinary opportunities. Rapid technological development and rising crises demand adaptability. Yet, the selected participants are able to maintain strong values and actively contribute to the civic life. 

Participants of Impact Summit #nextgen 2025 (alphabetical order): 

• Monika Balcová, Digital Media Manager | CEDMO 

• Natália Centková, Senior Project Manager | CINEFIL 

• Claudia Hlavačková, Climate Policy & Decarbonisation Expert | Plan A 

• Michal Hollý, Agile Coach | Slovak Telekom 

• Lukáš Hrošovský, Director | GenT 

• Marek Janiga, Founder & Chair | Spolu pomáhať – United for Help 

• Zuzana Jakubová, PR Manager | Kockáči 

• Viktor Mitruk, Founder | AI Prompt OZ 

• Karin Nosková, Program Manager | Volkswagen Slovakia Foundation 

• Andrej Sňahničan, Senior Consultant | Civitta Slovakia 

More information about the Impact Summit #nextgen 2025 participants can be found here. 

Resilience represents the ability to cope with challenges and obstacles we face every day. At a time when democratic countries are being threatened by hybrid warfare, legislative and verbal attacks from domestic politicians, as well as the threat of an actual military conflict, resilience has become a key skill for institutions and individuals alike.

At the third annual Impact Summit, we will explore ways to strengthen resilience—how to enhance it through cooperation, and how to keep our empathy while facing external pressures. 

Stories of People Who Did Not Give Up 

This year’s central motif is The Power Within Us. We find the inner strength to fight for what is right through hope and the vision of a just society. Opposition leader to Europe’s last authoritarian regime, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will join us via video call to share what it is like to carry a whole country’s fight for democracy on one’s shoulders and lead a nation into the 21st century. Together with her colleagues Kryścina Šyjanok and Karim Pedersen, who will attend the summit in person, they will share the story of building a democratic Belarus. 

Former President Zuzana Čaputová and ex-hockey player Dominik Hašek will speak about the challenges of leadership and staying true to one’s values. 

Philanthropist Dalibor Deděk will discuss the courage required to accent neglected social issues. Elite negotiator Adam Dolník, who has lectured FBI agents, will address personal resilience. 

About Resilience Through Data and Facts 

The level of resilience—or vulnerability—of a country can be measured using specific indicators that offer a firmer foundation for solutions. According to the most recent GLOBSEC Vulnerability Index (2021), one of the most significant risks for Slovakia is the Russian information warfare and the population’s low resilience to disinformation. 

On the positive side, the data shows relatively strong resilience within Slovakia’s civil society, formed in part by historical experiences such as the Mečiar regime or the murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová. 

The latest trends in resilience development in Slovakia and the region will be presented by Dominika Hajdu, the lead author of the GLOBSEC Vulnerability Index. 

According to research from the DEKK Institute, Slovakia is the third most polarized country in Europe. We will discuss the role of the media in countering disinformation and how to avoid deepening polarization through editorial choices with media leaders Lukáš Fila (Denník N), Alexej Fulmek (SME, Petit Press), and Ivan Antal (Bauer Media Slovakia). 

We will also address young people’s views on democracy. The discussion will feature trendspotter Pavlína Louženská, activist Bára Stárek, and activist Marek Mach. 

As in previous years, organizations from the Impact Lab program will share their stories. 

This year’s Impact Summit will take place on December 3, 2025, at the Aréna Theatre in Bratislava. 

Cultural anthropologist Helena Tužinská and social anthropologist Juraj Buzalka spoke with scientist Samo Kováčik about the collapse of trust in society from the scientific perspective.

Slovakia is facing an enormous level of polarization, leading to open extremism. For that reason, there was an expert discussion titled What Divides Us? listed as a part of this year’s Impact Summit. Cultural anthropologist Helena Tužinská, social anthropologist Juraj Buzalka, and science popularizer Samuel Kováčik, also known as Vedátor, discussed contemporary social phenomena. The experts agreed that the only solution is to find common ground. 

According to Juraj Buzalka, the struggle for a better society does not bring winners and losers. “We should abandon the idea that there will be a final resolution where someone will be proven right,” the anthropologist says. He also emphasizes that we tend to forget the stories that have shaped our common history, such as the events of 1989. “We lack a story that unites us,” Buzalka adds. 

Helena Tužinská also acknowledges the importance of a shared narrative. She points out that the best quality of life is found in communities with a high level of civic engagement, as people understand public affairs better and create their own collective story. “We cannot trust something we do not understand,” Tužinská says, highlighting the importance of using clear and accessible language when communicating with the public. 

Samuel Kováčik also touched on the topic of humor and its role in bringing society together. “Humor is a typical tool for de-escalating conflicts,” says Vedátor. He also notes that context is always crucial, as a joke can contribute to polarization if used incorrectly. “Authoritarian regimes prohibit laughter and the creation of communities that can joke about themselves. A king who cannot tolerate a jester only makes a fool of himself,” Helena Tužinská reflects. 

If you are interested in how the speakers view politicians’ responsibility in the destruction of society or how the tradition of carnivals relates to polarization, watch the full discussion below. 

The Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist spoke about the Daniel Sachs Foundation, which he co-founded to support political innovation and explore ways to strengthen democracy in times of crisis.

At the age of 40, Daniel Sachs was elected to the board of the Stockholm City Mission, a leading organization for homeless people in Sweden. “I suddenly realized that the tools I had as an entrepreneur proved to be useful not only in the business world but also in the area of social change,” he described one of the pivotal moments in his professional journey. Today, he openly advocates for businesses to take an active role in society and personally supports political innovation in Europe. Through the Apolitical Foundation, he is building a global community of next-generation politicians. 

Speaking at the Impact Summit, he recalled how, in 2014, he funded several campaigns to mobilize young voters for the European and later national elections in Sweden. These campaigns included a bus tour across the country, concerts, and meetings with young people. “However, we realized that if we truly want to change young people’s relationship with democracy and politics, we cannot just show up three weeks before the elections and tell them to vote. That creates a very short-term, superficial, and transactional relationship with democracy. If we want real change, we need much longer-term processes and projects to build the foundations of democratic participation,” Sachs emphasized. 

To prevent the outflow of young people and to strengthen their trust in democracy and institutions, he established an apolitical academy for young leaders, which now operates in 70 countries worldwide. 

Sachs acknowledges concerns about whether supporting young leaders is worthwhile if they are entering corrupt systems. However, he firmly believes that changing the leaders will gradually change the system as well. “Young people must learn that their voice matters and that they can make a difference. I’m happy when young people aspire to power,” he explained. 

How can we engage young people in public affairs? How can we convince them to take responsibility for their country and enter politics? And how does the leadership academy select its young participants? 

Watch the full conversation between Daniel Sachs and Juraj Porubský below. (Note: The video is in English, without Slovak subtitles.) 

Hungarian entrepreneur Zoltán Varga, Václav Muchna from the Czech Republic, and Andrej Kiska Jr. representing Slovakia discussed the responsibility of philanthropy and business in supporting democracy in the Central European region.

Philanthropists from the business sector are an integral part of civil society, whether they support education, the environment, or culture. Their involvement in promoting democracy and independent media is particularly significant. This was the topic of the discussion Does Democracy Need Philanthropists? at the Impact Summit, featuring three businessmen — Zoltán Varga (Hungary), Václav Muchna (Czech Republic), and Andrej Kiska Jr. (Slovakia) — in conversation with Beata Balogová, editor-in-chief of SME daily. 

Business leaders are often reluctant to publicly address issues of the rule of law and democracy. However, Andrej Kiska Jr. believes that values matter, and that business thrives best in open democracies with strong institutions. “The best thing you can do is support liberal democracies,” he advised entrepreneurs. 

Václav Muchna, the founder of a global software company, advocates for transparent conditions in business and society. He is actively involved in the Endowment Fund for Independent Journalism and the Alliance for a Modern State, which he financially supports along with other Czech entrepreneurs. He disagrees with the idea that philanthropists should remain apolitical. “That’s not how it works. We are absolutely influenced by the environment in which we do our businesses,” Muchna said, emphasizing the importance of transparency. Before the elections in the Czech Republic, he openly supported a specific political party, disclosing the amount he contributed and explaining his reasons in a social media post. 

Zoltán Varga, CEO of Central Media Group, one of Hungary’s largest independent media companies, explained why he supports independent journalism and democracy: “Values such as integrity, protecting friends, children, colleagues, the future, and hope for a better tomorrow — that’s the reason. It must come from personal integrity and a sense of responsibility for the country.” 

He also expressed a clear stance on whether civic organizations should accept donations from controversial individuals and companies. “Such money should be rejected,” Varga said firmly, recommending crowdfunding as an alternative solution. 

Watch the full discussion below (note: the video is in English, without Slovak subtitles). 

A direct encounter with death led him to fight against terrorism. “It starts with ourselves,” says the survivor of Breivik’s attack. Watch the recording of Bjørn Ihler’s talk at the Impact Summit. 

The second year of the Impact Summit featured many powerful stories showcasing ways to tackle today’s challenges. One of them was shared by Bjørn Ihler, a survivor of Anders Breivik’s 2011 attack on the island of Utøya. With the help of experts, he overcame his trauma and now works to prevent violent extremist acts. “I’m on a mission to end terrorism,” says Ihler, who serves as the director of Revontulet and the Khalifa Ihler Institute. 

According to him, understanding terrorism and its perpetrators is crucial, as terrorist acts affect a wide range of areas within society. “It’s about conversations with people who are in radicalization processes. The key is recognizing the humanity of people who are engrained in extremist movements and letting them know we see their value as humans,” says Bjørn Ihler on how to prevent killings in the name of ideology. “We all have a role to play in building a safer world for all. It starts with us.” He adds that creating a secure society requires overcoming the fear of differences and fostering collaboration across sectors. 

Watch the full recording of his talk below. (Note: The video is in English, without Slovak subtitles.)  

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. 

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? 

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. 

For Veronika Móra, the fall of the Berlin Wall was just the beginning. At the upcoming Impact Summit, she will share how the fight for democracy and the environment is ongoing and never truly ends.

In the revolutionary period of the late 1980s, as Europe and Hungary experienced profound changes, Veronika Móra was working in the Netherlands as a liaison for the environmental foundation Milieukontakt Oosteuropa, focused on Hungary. As a biology student, she was particularly frustrated that she couldn’t be present for some of the pivotal events that followed Hungary’s transition from communism. She recalls, for example, the taxi drivers’ strike against high fuel prices. Although she now sees the reasons for the strike as unjustified, she emphasizes one point: it was an event where the whole city came together to show solidarity with others by disrupting traffic.

Veronika holds two university degrees – one in biology and the other in social psychology – and has been active in the civil sector for over thirty years. This sector has faced its most significant challenges since the rise of Viktor Orbán’s government. Since 2010, Orbán’s administration has systematically restricted the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Hungary. The government’s attacks on civil society reached their peak in 2014, when, shortly after the ruling party’s re-election, the head of the Prime Minister’s office announced plans to target organizations receiving funding from European and Norwegian funds.

A few weeks later, a group of police officers raided the offices of Ökotárs, an organization where Veronika has served as director since 2007. They searched documents and computers, and Veronika was handcuffed and taken to her apartment, where her computer was also seized. The operation lasted several hours, during which time employees were prohibited from contacting anyone. The court later ruled the raid as an unlawful action, but the government never issued a public apology.

The government’s crackdown on NGOs continued in 2017 with the introduction of the notorious law on the transparency of foreign-funded organizations. This law required NGOs to register as “organizations receiving foreign funding” if their support from abroad exceeded 24,000 euros. (Note: A similar law, inspired by Hungary, Poland, and Russia, has recently been proposed by the Slovak government, though experts suggest it may be even stricter than Hungary’s version.)

However, Veronika points out that the label of “foreign-funded” was just one small part of the broader law. Its main purpose was to stigmatize and launch a campaign against civil society organizations, many of which rely heavily on voluntary public donations.

In response to the law, Ökotárs, under Veronika’s leadership, along with 33 other NGOs, formed the Civilizáció coalition. This platform coordinates cooperation among Hungarian organizations in their fight for their rights. Thanks to the coalition’s efforts, several laws against civil society were rejected at the European level, including the 2017 law. However, it’s important to note that some of these laws remain in force in Hungary.

Through the Civilizáció coalition, they continue to focus on problematic laws and measures that limit the rights of NGOs, freedom of speech, and the rights of LGBTI+ individuals. Veronika emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in preserving democratic values and civil liberties in the country. However, she also stresses that the fight ultimately lies with the citizens themselves, as it is the public that benefits most from these rights and the work of NGOs.

Bjørn Ihler has survived a terrorist attack in his youth. A personal experience influenced his decision to start helping victims of extremism. At this year’s Impact Summit, he will talk about where denial of difference and diversity can lead, including how to create space for dialogue in a divided society, and how to find trust in people and the world.

Bjørn Ihler, only 20 years old, was one of about 600 participants at the Norwegian Left Party’s youth camp on 22 July 2011. At around half past six in the afternoon gunshots rang out. The camp was held on the Norwegian island of Utøya and the shots came from the gun of neo-Nazi Anders Breivik.

Bjørn fled into the woods, where he found an eight-year-old boy and took him into hiding. The boy was worried about his father, who served as a guard at the camp. He wanted to go looking for him, but Bjørn persuaded the boy to stay with him. The boy’s father was later identified as one of the victims.

When they heard gunshots coming in their direction, they had to move on. They fled to the edge of the island. From there, Bjørn and the boy saw helicopters and police boats, and heard a man in a police uniform calling to them. He told them that it was all over, that they were safe. Then the same man started shooting again. It was Anders Breivik, who wanted to go on killing in disguise.

Bjørn could only escape Breivik rage by jumping into the icy lake. When he emerged from the water, he saw his attacker pointing a gun directly at his head.

After years, Bjørn describes these moments as the moments of his greatest fear. He was sure he was going to die that day. He says that more than being afraid of the attacker, he was afraid of the unknown – he didn’t know what could have possibly happened and what death would be like. But he didn’t let that life experience break him. On the contrary, he has dedicated his life to helping those who survived what he did and, most importantly, to trying to prevent similar acts from happening again.

How to prevent attacks?

This is the question Bjørn began to ask himself. After successfully completing a degree in theatre design in Liverpool, he became involved in a number of projects to counter violent extremism and expand his education in this field. Working with former extremists has been part of his work for years.

Bjørn founded Revontulet, a company that helps to identify and prevent potential terrorist threats. They research the specifics of a particular organisation or company and provide tailored security advice based on data collection and expert analysis. They also offer an information service that aims to provide the latest news on geopolitics and counter-terrorism. The latter also serves as a real-time alert of potential dangers.

He also co-founded the Kalifa Ihler Institute, which is dedicated to the recovery of society through technological innovation, cooperation with the media and the drafting of proposals for concrete measures. Their main focus is on research and threat monitoring. For example, they have developed the Hate Map, which captures the links between far-right activities, from leaflet distribution to violent crime. The aim of the project is to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue and to highlight connections that may not be apparent at first glance. This helps to map, as well predict, trends within extremist groups. For example, it is often the case that in terrorist attacks, so-called ‘lone wolves’ are mentioned, but the similarities subsequently reveal that the attackers have been inspired by other acts of violence in the past or have been linked to neo-Nazi movements through unofficial channels.

Bjørn was also part of the international security cooperation after the attack on the Tepláreň (gay pub in Bratislava). He and his team were particularly keen to prevent the spread of the attacker’s manifesto.

He also served as chair of the Global Internet Counterterrorism Forum and joined the Obama Foundation Leaders, a network of individuals whose work at the local level brings about positive change in their communities or countries.

Diversity as prevention of extremism

As part of his work, Bjørn visits various forums and talks about his experience. He stresses that for a society to be peaceful, there must be room for diversity. He compares the terror he felt just before the bullet flew inches from his head to the fear that drives violent people like Breivik.

For Bjørn, it is the fear of the unknown – for some, it may be minorities or a different way of thinking. True courage is therefore what Bjørn calls the courage to face the fear of the unknown and embrace the otherness that surrounds us. For only a society in which everyone has a place, no matter who they are, creates a safe environment for all of us.

We are acutely aware of the state our country is in. Society is divided into camps, constructive solutions are being squeezed out by populism, and the civil sector, together with the rule of law, is facing a lot of pressure.

In order to successfully withstand crises, society needs to be united. It is cohesion that makes communities work, keeps groups together, fosters cooperation and respect for common rules, which leads to the creation of mutual trust.

In Slovakia, however, we observe low trust among people and towards institutions, which is related to the weakening of the importance of local authorities and state institutions, the growth of anti-systemic sentiment, the worsening of the ability to respond to crises, and the increased polarisation of society (DEKK Institute).

Interpersonal trust has been stagnant for a long time, but among institutions, the public trusts the non-state sectors the most. Scientists and scientific institutions are in first place (64.6%), followed by universities and colleges (62.6%), and in third place are Slovak companies together with local government (59.9%) (DEKK Institute, Trends (Distrust) 2023).

Relatively high trust in the private sector is a clear signal for companies to be socially responsible. This is confirmed by the findings of global surveys, where business is perceived as the most trusted institution for introducing innovation into society and the public also expects it to engage on value issues (Edelman Trust Barometer 2024).

This year, we want to continue the debate on strengthening democracy and demonstrate the role of trust in this process by linking the public, civil and corporate sectors.

Key note speakers will include peace activist Bjorn Ihler, a survivor of Anders Breivik’s mass shooting in Utøya, Norway. Swedish businessman and philanthropist Daniel Sachs will talk (not only) about the role of philanthropy and the responsibility of business in promoting democracy. Veronika Móra is the director of the Okotars Foundation from Hungary, which in 2014 was subjected to raids, inspections by the authorities and an the investigation by the government’s NGO watchdog, the European Commission for the Control of Non-Governmental Organisations (KEHI).

Slovakia will also be represented in the discussion on trust – Pavel Kosnáč, director and analyst from the DEKK Institute and academics from Comenius University – Helena Tužinská and Juraj Buzalka. Civil society organisations will outline the ways in which social innovation can contribute to confidence building and depolarisation.

Names of other speakers will be announced soon.

The Impact Summit will connect 250 people from civil society, business and government, creating a space for discussions on key issues in our society. The event will take place on Wednesday 4th December 2024 from 9:00 am at the Arena Theatre in Bratislava.

The event brought together over 250 people from civil society, business and government. Impact Summit also created an opportunity for conversations on topical issues such as recession of democracy, local engagement and social innovation.

“Preserving democratic principles is not just a matter for top politicians. We all need to actively participate. Cooperation between public administration, representatives of the corporate sector and civil society also plays an important role. Impact Summit allows them to connect and discuss current issues in Slovakia and around the world,” says Martina Kolesárová, Executive Director of Pontis Foundation. She adds that the key areas of the summit this year are the recession of democracy and social innovation.

“I am very pleased that Ben Rhodes accepted our invitation. Ben served as an advisor to President Barack Obama. During that time, he was involved in almost all of the President’s key decisions and oversaw his national security communications, speechwriting, public diplomacy and global engagement programs,” adds M. Kolesárová.

Obama advisor in Bratislava: we can choose our leaders, we are not powerless

Ben Rhodes spoke at the summit about the rise of autocratic leaders, who gained power through standing out against globalization and deepening economic inequalities in society. His message to people from different bubbles was to get involved in community life and not to resign.

“The strategy of autocrats is to make us apathetic, to make us think that nothing can be changed. We can choose our leaders, we are not powerless,” stressed B. Rhodes.

Ben Rhodes told more on whether the rise of authoritarian leaders was inevitable and what the European Union has failed to do in an interview for SME, conducted directly at Impact Summit.

Ben Rhodes (left) was interviewed by host Michal Kovačič.

President Zuzana Čaputová was also among the speakers. She also took over the patronage of the event. “Democracy never works on autopilot. It requires our constant involvement and commitment. It is a vibrant thing, it needs our care and protection,” she said.

“I am not afraid that there would not be people in Slovakia who are firm enough in their values and in the fact that they will express their opinion when necessary,” Zuzana Čaputová said in a discussion with Veronika Cifrova Ostrihoňová.

Among the twenty speakers was also Stanford University professor Johanna Mair, an expert on social innovations. She introduced the concept of political innovations that have emerged as a response to the so-called recession of democracy – which is accompanied by an increase in polarization, authoritarianism or social conflict. She talked about the initiatives of many civil society organizations that identify challenges in the political system and cooperate to address them. Another guest was Lisa Witter, co-founder of the Apolitical Foundation, a global platform for civil servants from more than 160 countries. She presented inspiring examples of leadership in public service from Europe and explained why democracy can be a hot topic for philanthropy and investors.

Editor-in-chief of SME Beata Balogová, psychologist Dušan Ondrušek and sociologist Martin Slosiarik also provided their perspective on the state of democracy in Slovakia.

Innovative metropolises and modern Slovak organizations

“When completing the program of the summit, we collaborated with the National Democratic Institute, a global organization, which covered a panel on democracy and innovation in the environment of Central European local governments,” explained M. Kolesárová. The speakers were the vice-mayors of Bratislava, Gdańsk and Budapest Lenka Antalová Plavuchová, Monika Chabior and Gábor Kerpel-Fornius.

As a city, Gdansk is known for its inclusive policies, improving the skills of its administrative workers and supporting communities through the so-called neighborhood houses – centers co-financed by the city and run by residents. Hungary’s capital city, for its part, committed to follow the Smart Budapest concept – they strive to be a sustainable metropolis, improving the lives of their citizens through greater social responsibility and actively involving them in the urban planning process.

Impact Summit also featured representatives of Slovak organizations that work in innovative ways on topics such as transparency, cultivating the public debate and combating disinformation: Martina Bolibruchová – educational platform Zmudri, Jakub Hrbáň – initiative Climate Needs You, Martin Kováč – modern church Old Catholics in Slovakia, Michala Hrdinová – development program for administrative workers Public Leadership Academy, Ľuboš Kostelanský – Transparency International Slovakia and Michal Horský – platform for a fair discussion in a divided society DemDis.

All of these projects are currently part of the Pontis Foundation’s Impact Lab acceleration and incubation program, in which they receive mentoring, strengthen their potential and receive financial support.

There was also a discussion on the importance of co-creation in the implementation and support of social innovations. The speakers were Michaela Kršková, Director General of the Research, Development and Innovation Section at the Government Office, Rastislav Blažej from the Social Bank of Slovenská sporiteľňa and Michal Hladký, Director of Creative Industry Košice.

We present the changemakers from Slovak civil society organizations.

Democracy and the rule of law are essential for a healthy functioning of the country in all its areas. However, they are not a given and need constant supervision and continuous protection from all of us.

In Slovakia, too, we have people who care about the health of democracy. The Impact Summit will feature presentations by representatives of organizations that work every day on issues such as transparency, combating misinformation, and cultivating public debate.

DemDis

Michal Horský is a lawyer and civic activist, but above all someone who wants to have a decent conversation. That’s why he founded DEMDIS, an organization that leads people to substantive and peaceful dialogue and seeks agreements instead of disputes in conversation. At DEMDIS they try to achieve this by organizing discussions, workshops, but also by developing interactive digital tools for online debates.

“At DEMDIS, we are convinced that democracy needs new forms of citizen engagement in its processes. Our vision is therefore to design and organize diverse citizen forums. It is through a fair exchange of views that we can break out of the constant stalling in place and together improve life in Slovakia,“ says M. Horský.

Old Catholics in Slovakia

When imagining the Church, many people think of a number of stereotypes concerning conservatism and obsolescence. However, the representatives of the Old Catholics in Slovakia are trying to change this image through their activities. Martin Kováč, an Old Catholic priest who works in Bratislava and Trnava, says that Old Catholics follow a spirituality of “radical openness, acceptance, dialogue and love.”

That is why, among other things, they provide counseling and organize support groups for the rainbow community. A new clubhouse for LGBTI+ people is also to be added in Žilina, which will serve as a safe place for people from the region. “If we are talking about real, open acceptance and support, there are very few such places in Slovakia. In Bratislava, the LGBTI+ community has them, which is different from other parts of Slovakia. In a big city, however, it is easier to get lost in the crowd,” adds M. Kováč.

Zmudri

Education is one of the highest priorities for children and youth. It is also related to the fight against disinformation. The people at Zmudri understand this, which is why they have created two educational platforms. One is Zmudri.sk, through which teachers can join courses on how to teach better. Through it, pupils can access videos, quizzes and various activities on current and general topics. As there was great interest in Zmudri.sk, a special medium Zmudri G was created. This is an educational channel that offers content tailored for leisure learning online on its website and on social networks.

“Hoaxes have unfortunately become an issue in recent years that affects elections, the whole society and its direction. In Slovakia, an alarming number of people trust hoaxes and I am trying to help improve this situation,” says Martina Bolibruchová, co-founder and director of Zmudri.

Transparency International Slovakia

With 25 years of experience, Transparency International Slovakia (TIS) is one of the most respected watchdog organizations in the country, working to ensure the highest possible level of transparency in public institutions. TIS plans to deepen its efforts to increase public access to information, building on best practices from the field. These include, in particular, making analyses based on collected data.

One of the organization’s analysts is a former journalist Ľuboš Kostelanský: “Few countries can offer such a variety of beauties as ours. I have always regretted that we cannot make as much use of this potential as, for example, the neighbouring Czech Republic, Austria or Hungary. I am convinced that the support we are trying to provide to decent entrepreneurs can move our country forward.” TIS also encourages ethical business through their Who Owns project, where they publish available information about the owners of various establishments and assess the transparency of their business.

Climate Needs You

From an informal platform of angry people, a nationwide project has emerged. Climate Needs You draws attention to the consequences of the climate crisis, its causes, as well as the lack of solutions from public policy makers. “We are a group of those who recognise the threat that the climate crisis poses to the future of our survival on this planet. But we are not giving up and we want to solve the crisis,” the movement says on its website.

They are currently working on monitoring the status quo, but are also looking at the implementation of climate action. Based on the data collected, it will be possible to compile a series of recommendations for public figures.

Public Leadership Academy

The organization Manageria is primarily dedicated to education, which should produce capable and decent people, ready to create a better future for the country. However, an important part of this process is also the recovery of the public sector.

“Our goal is that citizens receive quality services. We want the state to solve their problems before they happen,” says Michala Hrdinová, the leader of the Public Leadership Academy program. It is a developmental training program for public administration workers to prepare them to implement positive changes in their workfield.

The project was created as a cooperation between the organizations Teach, Leaf, the Goodwill Clerks Club and Nexteria, associated under the Manageria NGO.

The challenges facing the world in recent years are bringing about a recession of democracy and increasingly contributing to the polarisation of society. It is local governments that are proving to be more credible than national governments, because they have the ability to actively involve citizens and to respond both flexibly and innovatively to urgent issues such as humanitarian aid or economic crises.

Monika Chabrior, Vice-Mayor of Gdansk, Lenka Antalová Plavuchová, Vice-Mayor of Bratislava, Gábor Kerpel Fronius, Vice-Mayor of Budapest, and Nicole Wright Patrick, Programme Manager at the National Democratic Institute, will discuss how local governments can increase the engagement of their citizens.

The discussion will take place in cooperation with the National Democratic Institute, which focuses on local government leadership and implements the long-term programme Central European Initiative for Democracy in the Visegrad countries.

11:45 – 12:30 Democracy and Innovations in the Environment of Central European Local Governments (Monika Chabior, Lenka Plavuchová Antalová, Gábor Kerpel Fronius; hosted by Nicole Wright Patrick)

Sustaining and strengthening a democracy that serves everyone is both a matter and a responsibility for all of us — not only for politicians, but also for civil society and people working in public administration.

That’s why the Impact Summit will feature Multitudes Foundation, Sarah Durieux and Jeff Kwasi Klein. They will speak about an innovative perspective on the role of civil society and the state in supporting democracy.

14:20 – 14:50 New role of civil society and the state in promoting democracy

Lisa Witter, co-founder of the Apolitical Foundation, will present inspiring examples of leadership in public administration from Europe and outline why democracy can be a hot topic for philanthropy and impact investors.

14:00 – 14:20 Inspiring examples of leadership in public service from Europe

Quick pathways to impactful solutions are rare. Forming coalitions and prioritising collaboration over individual action can slow the implementation of social innovation. However, a collective process increases the likelihood of an innovation’s success in the long run.

In an article on social innovation, Johanna Mair and Thomas Gegenhuber provide insights into the tools we can use to arrive at solutions to social problems. Here, we summarise the main ideas of the article and provide an insight into the work of one of the keynote speakers at the Impact Summit.

The watershed events of the time, such as COVID-19, have further highlighted the issues we need to address as a society. We live in a time when we cannot rely solely on the heroic feats of individuals, the state, civil society or business as independent agents of change.

Rather, we need to co-create proposals for solutions to problems, supported by digital technologies. Johanna Mair and Thomas Gegenhuber call such collaboration Open Social Innovation (OSI).

OSI has two main features. The first is that potential solutions to societal problems exist, but are unevenly distributed among citizens. One problem may concern one group but not another social group. The second assumption is that the journey from idea to impact requires interactions that are collaborative and competitive.

An example of OSI is the WirVsVirus (Us versus Virus) initiative in Germany. The initiative responded to the challenges associated with COVID-19 – e.g. providing healthcare online, teaching during lockdown, etc. It was a 48-hour hackathon involving 28 thousand citizens. They formed a total of 130 teams and the most viable solutions also received financial and mentoring support for 6 months.

Another example is the UpdateDeutschland initiative. Launched in April 2021, the experiment was designed to encourage citizens to express themselves and thus work together on challenges to improve the public sector in Germany.

In terms of format, other initiatives besides hackathons can also take place, such as innovation competitions or open data hackathons. What they have in common is that they create a space for people who are not usually heard to get involved.

Open Social Innovation enables them to participate in political, public or civic life, building trust between the public and civil sectors.

Read the original article here: Mair, J., & Gegenhuber, T. (2021). Open Social Innovation.Stanford Social Innovation Review, 19(4), 26-33.