ISSUE #9 SLOVAKIA
S L O V A K I A
THE historic city of Bratislava has many wonderful attractions but none more so than paying a visit to the country office of Smaller Earth. The city, which has a population of half a million residents is in the South West of the country and borders both Austria and Hungary.
Country manager Sandor Benkovics first established the new office in the city in 2011, after initially establishing the Camp Leaders program from his home in 2008. Sandor said: “It all started after I met with Alex Fekete, and after I became the first student to participate in the program. Since,
The city that sits on the River Danube has a rich history with the influences of its near neighbours including Germany, Czechoslovakia, Serbia, and even was part of the Habsburg Empire from 1536 to 1783.
I have spent five unforgettable summers at camp in the U.S. “One of the reason’s I am involved is because I believe deeply in the philosophy of the company and in its positive impact on the lives on the young people.”
Bratislava is home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important cultural and educational institutions. Many of Slovakia’s large businesses and financial institutions also have headquarters which now include the friendly face of Smaller Earth.
Now in its seventh season of operation, the program has become well known among students and those living not just in Bratislava but also around the country. Continued on page 4
The office has four full time staff and ten part time students who work hard to spread the name of Smaller Earth and its Camp Leader program to young people at nine different towns and cities across Slovakia.
“We are truly passionate about what we do, which means we never put our goals on the back burner just because things don’t play out the way we want them to. Equally, we use those challenges as motivating factors to succeed. That is who we are and what
Sandor knows that running an office that involves investing in the Smaller Earth philosophy, is much more than working 9am to 5pm.
makes us special! We work hard but play with lots of humour.”
Staff member Edita Teplanova adds: “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to
He said: “The vibe in the office is
share our very special life changing
incredible. We work hard to make
experiences with hundreds of young
every participant who comes to
people and help them to discover it
check out our program feel both the
too.”
professional yet friendly atmosphere and positive feelings.
Fun Fact When he travelled to the U.S. for the first time he had long hair and earring (check his Facebook profile :) ). He also went on a cruise to the Bahamas and his secret dream is to eventually have his own cottage in Puerto Rico.
S A N D O R
B E N K O V I C S
COUNTRY MANAGER
Sandor who holds a master’s degree in economics, embarked on his life changing experiences during his third year at university. He spent the first U.S. summer at Camp Nesher in 2008. He was so changed and enthused by the experience, that spent four more years at Lake Bryn Mawr Camp, where he worked as a member of the kitchen staff and where he also became a cooking specialist out of doors. Sandor’s experience persuaded him that having such a program for local students was a great idea and right after the summer he started developing the new Camp Leaders office in Slovakia. From that time, and aged just 22, he became an indispensable member of Smaller Earth family. In his leisure time Sandor runs halfmarathons, as yet another way in inspiring people to go further.
Fun Fact Zuzana’s sister lives in Mexico and in 2011 after her graduation she made one-month road trip to visit her.
Z U Z A N A
T E L E P O V S K A TEAM MEMBER
Zuzana is proud to declare she comes from Kosice, the second largest city in Slovakia. She studied finance, banking and investment at the UK’s University of Huddersfield before doing Erasmus at Teesside University. Zuzana believes that if she does something, she aims to do it with both energy and passion. Zuzana has so far spent three summers working at summer camp in US. And her adopted second home is on Lake Winnipesaukee and Camp Robindel for Girls. This summer will be her fourth summer and she can’t wait to get there. She joined the Smaller Earth family in 2013, and it was Bastian’s speech at the annual conference which influenced her career vision.
M A R T I N
D E R M E K
TEAM MEMBER
Martin has a reputation among his colleagues in that he is easy-going and very much a people-person, the ‘Casanova’ of the office! When he was at High School he fell in love with the English language and later studied teaching English and literature. He also taught business English. This summer will represent his fourth year at JCC Camp CHI in Wisconsin.
Fun Fact Martin is currently practicing his handstands and intends to do it down the stairs of the office. You can ask him if he was successful when you see him at this year’s annual conference but then again you can probably figure out if he was successful!
Fun Fact In 2009, she experienced both Hurricane Irene, while in New York and an earthquake at Virginia Beach.
E D I T A
T E P L A N O V A TEAM MEMBER
Edita worked as a child psychologist for more than two years before she joined the Smaller Earth family. In her new role she loves dealing with university students and supporting them towards their future career goals. While at university, she spent one summer in Manchester with her friends and took the opportunity of meeting and getting to know some great people while there. She was one of only five people who first participated in the new Camp Leaders program from Slovakia. The following year she became a national team member. She found love during two summers spent at Camp Half Moon, Massachusetts. The biggest impact of Camp Leaders had to her life was in May 2014, she married the person she met at Camp Half Moon.
“I decided without any hesitation to embark on this so I could give something back. Katie Cunliffe
PEOPLE will tell you that one of the greatest attributes in life is having compassion for one another and caring deeply for those particularly in their hour of need.
Fiona Duffee
And for Smaller Earth staff that focus has been brought to the fore recently after they embarked on a series of fundraisers not only to help poor children but to assist a former Smaller Earth team member Fiona Duffee, 30, who after suffering a stroke in March, was paralysed down her left side and lost her speech. To help Fiona, Smaller staff in Liverpool recently held a number of events, which included selling cup cakes and a day at the races. Solihull staff member Katie Cunliffe, who remembered her when she worked at Smaller Earth, was part of the effort which raised £100 for Fiona. Fundraising is nothing new to Katie, and since February she and and her office colleague Stu Young, have also been raising money for Action for Children, which involved pub quizzes involving both staff at Liverpool and Solihull. Katie, who among other duties, is responsible for organising the UK flights For Camp Leaders explains: “I decided without any hesitation to embark on the fundraisers for poorer children and for Fiona, so I could give something back.
“What really struck me as a scary in Fiona’s case, was the thought that one day you can be completely healthy and the next you are hit by a life changing event that can affect you for the rest of your life.” Stuart added: “We thought a fundraiser for Fiona would be a perfect opportunity for us all to have some fun share some laughs and also do a good deed at the same time.” According to Fiona’s family, despite being struck down by illness, hasn’t lost her sense of humour or her smile. As every person knows, the efforts by Smaller Earth staff worldwide is nothing new and as an organization we pride ourselves on going that extra mile to help out, whether that be collecting for an orphanage in Kenya or sponsoring less well off youngsters to attend camp. If members of the Smaller Earth team have any further ideas or events coming up, please do let our CEO know. so it can be better publicised and more importantly recognized amongst the group.
COVER: HOUSE IN ČIČMANY BY MR. THEKLAN
DESIGNED BY
2015