Development festival in three Slovak cities

“I would also like to make my sustainable shake,” a teenage girl has uttered eagerly while staying in the queue in front of the “cycloshaker”, a stationary bicycle connected to the electricity generator and the liquidiser full of fair trade bananas, milk and some other additional ingredients.

Each visitor could mix her/his own non-alcoholic banana shake using just her/his own energy. It was one of the wide variety of activities prepared for visitors of (UN)SUSTAINABLE PARTY; ... so the next generations could enjoy such a party in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica and Košice, the major cities in western, central and eastern Slovakia.

This year we opted for new approach with organising our so called Development Day to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. We decided, for the first time in history of our organisation, not to launch event only in Bratislava, but also in other parts of our country.

Three events raising awareness about global issues and sustainable development

“Maybe you know, maybe not, but in coming days we will celebrate World Food Day,” Michal Mlynár opened his speech at first of the events, which took place on 14.10.2016 in Bratislava. Michal Mlynár from Slovak MFA was addressing audience of around 200 people of all ages, speaking about sustainability which integral part is also food security. That security which is currently under significant risk due to climate change impacts around the world.

Of course, we did not end up with bothersome speeches of representatives of various Slovak institutions and NGOs. No, no. It was just the beginning, compulsory skating around, and afterwards more juicy programme begun. It started with performance of theatrical comedy named Zachráň svojho Afričana (Save your African), which was making fun of stereotypes on so called developing world, and providing strong criticism of often standardised and industrialised ODA.

After the theatre act, which made people laughing and thinking  at the same time, we have officially announced results of the competition 2016 Dôstojný život pre všetkých (Decent Life for All) and awarded its winners, both writing journalists and photographers.

After that only free entertainment took place. Visitors could visit stands of our member organisations, get to know with up cycling fashion, speak with living books about their experience in global South countries, bike out their own banana shake, taste global cuisine... And, of course, listen and dance to the concert of the music band La3no Cubano, and later to DJ bringing his unique mix of music from global South with European tones.

(UN)SUSTAINABLE PARTY in Banská Bystrica and Košice

We immediately started to organise other two event just days after first successful one in Bratislava. Next one took place on 28.10.2016 in Banská Bystrica, atown located between mountains in central Slovakia, and in Košice,  a metropolis of eastern Slovakia. We, again, brought interesting programme for our visitors, supplemented by the public discussion about stereotypes of Africa, about development, development volunteering or humanitarian aid - we also used three short videos to make discussion more vivid.

We have, of course, brought also our exhibition of photos, cycloshaker for leg-made banana shakes, global cuisine from all around the world, and concert for those who wanted to move themselves more than during making their shakes.