There are no coincidences

When we do any small action focused in an area that interests us, it will always have a positive effect for us -> experience. However, we need to know what we are really interested in and concerned about. I’ve been finding my way to ecology for a bit longer, of course the beginning was about clothes (because what teenager doesn’t care what clothes she shows to the world), then as a native of Bratislava I hiked for the first time with a tent and a big backpack as part of the DofE programme, and during the quarantine period I started to feel more at home outside than between the four walls. At university, I slowly began to work out in my mind whether it was possible to link ecology with my major in International Relations, and the more I forcefully raised the question at every possible opportunity, the information gradually started to come in. When you ask a lot of questions, once in a while you get a good answer, and at the right time, Planet Lover with the incredible soul of the project, Saskia, came under my nose.

Honestly, I found out about Planet Lover a few months back. Later on, I had the opportunity to attend the “EcoConference” on 11.02.2023. I was such a student-non-student attendee, since Planet Lover organizes events more for high school kids and I am already a Ms. Bachelor. However, the amazing thing was that we could involve absolutely everyone (guests, volunteers, speakers, teachers), since this topic is not ONLY about kids, but about all of us. Environmental protection is bandied around all the time nowadays, but often unsuccessfully because of the way it is presented to the audience. In this case, it was a clear communication with playful and logical tasks that involved everyone involved and also with a smile on the lips in a familial atmosphere. Personally, the event offered me an incredible perspective thanks to the varied program and to hear those words live from already-established adults in the field was very encouraging even for a young college student. 🙂 I mean, environmental diplomacy is not yet fully developed, let alone in Slovakia, but Sasha and I agreed that we see a lot of potential in it for the future.

The EcoConference included 6 presentations in 2 blocks and if you ask me which one I liked the most, I can’t say. And maybe I did. The one closest to my heart was our Olympian Zuzka Rehák Štefeček. The way she and Sasha presented the sport to us, I experienced with every single cell, as I am also a long-time enthusiast of movement and I know almost everything that goes with it, especially the strong emotions. In addition, there was a very nice sentence, “Athletes have an amazingly built self-discipline and therefore apply changes to their lives more easily – ones that benefit those around them as well, without the hound talk.” And it’s true. I hadn’t realised this fact until then, or how top sport can be linked to the eco philosophy.

Other presentations presented other ECO categories such as: quality food in Slovakia, circular economy, underwater world through the eyes of marine biologists from the Adriatic Sea, media and the last presentation was rounded off by Chris Thaller with his story of creative app development for a better future. Brutal, huh? 🙂 It was a really well organised event from start to finish. A big THANK YOU for the opportunity to attend, I will be happy to spread the word about you, I will also be happy to attend future events.

It’s not just about us young people, we often lack meaningful role models to guide us. This Civic Association is represented by incredibly golden people who themselves are aware of the responsibility for all of us and can sensibly pass on information packages to the children. I am therefore also deeply marked in my soul by this project and I hope that I will be able to be part of positive changes in my profession and private life. It is sometimes difficult in a world full of temptation, misinformation and lazy minds, but when asked the question, “To be an EGOist or an ECOist?”, the choice of answer is clear 🙂

Sofia B. (22 years old, from Bratislava) is an International Relations student who participated in the 1st EcoConference as a volunteer. In the future she plans to develop her enviro/eco-direction together with her profession. In her free time, she continues to travel with a hiking backpack on her shoulders, practice yoga and read books.