The joy of the reunion, the warm welcomes, the expectations in the eyes of the children looking forward to the interesting program prepared for them on December 1, 2023 in the premises of the Zoo House on Mojmírova Street in Košice, by the project manager We are with you at the right time, Iveta Falátová, and the team of the Director for External Relations, gave the impression that it would be a great afternoon again. And it really was. It is a pity that all eleven families of our colleagues included in this year's traditional corporate program could not come. Unfortunately, two of them had to stay at home.
A nice gathering interspersed with memories of experiences from the whole year and news in the lives of families was opened by the Director for External Relations, Ján Bača, who also handed over gifts to all participants. Children will receive St. Nicholas packages, adults will receive a framed collage of photographs as a souvenir, which will remind them of the moments spent together during experiential activities.
A lot of instructive information from the life of animals, which were literally devoured by both children and their parents, was prepared for their guests by partners from the Košice Zoo. From the director Erich Kočner, they learned details about the establishment of the Center for Environmental Education in the heart of Košice and its focus, the great storyteller Pepa, Josef Kindl from the ZOO's education department, engagingly introduced them to the care of animals in the zoo in winter and revealed, among other things, what gifts they will receive and whether they will receive at all for Christmas.
Undoubtedly, the tour of the terrarium exhibition was an experience for everyone.
The daredevils had the opportunity not only to pet the friendly iguana Rupert, but also to take him in their arms. The largest toad in the world, which was named Princess, was also admired.
For eight of the eleven families, it was an event where they said goodbye to the project. No wonder with a bit of nostalgia. But it was mainly thanks for the attention, support and help in coping with their difficult life situation. After all, what would they give if their children were healthy, or if they could turn back time and enjoy the daily presence of their loved one, whom fate took away from them forever? Not only the Vaník family, who take care of their now eleven-year-old Lukášek with autism with great love, or Beáta Múdra, who was left alone for her three children after the death of her husband, but also everyone who came to the meeting, probably everything.
The Vaníks praise the project We Are With You at the Right Time, in which they participated for two years. "He gave us a lot," said the head of the family, father Ľubomír. "We met a lot of people and even though everyone has their own problems, we helped each other, exchanged experiences. Especially about therapies. For example, we tend to go to dolphin therapy, which probably helps Lukášek the most. We also used the money we received for it." Both spouses also appreciated the opportunity to participate in various events. "We entered the project during covid, yet we were at all the events that were organized. Whether in winter or summer. We were also in Jahodná for winter sports games, on a trip to the zoo even twice, but also in Medzev, where there were also children from children's homes. There, everyone literally won on skittles, tried archery, had fun on bouncy castles."
"It was really great in Medzev," confirmed Lukáš's mother. "I still remember one boy from the children's home who came to us immediately and told us to go play. He took my husband to a football game and then asked me if I could help him with this or that. If I could, I'll pack it up and take it home with me," she laughed, remembering the nice moments she had. And on the subject of dolphin therapy, she also noted that she thinks it really helps schoolboy Lukáš. After all, even before the first therapy, he did not know how to show emotions very much, such as regret when someone cried. He did not understand what was happening around him. Today, they can be seen in his speeches. For example, in the form of a spontaneous hug of his mother, or a conversation with strangers whom he was not afraid of before, but he was not accommodating to them. That is why the Vaník family would like to continue with dolphin therapy at least once a year in the future. And again in Ukraine, which is the closest and most cost-effective.
For Beata Múdra, participation in the project, as she said, was very enriching. And pleasant. "Dad is gone, we don't have any grandparents, we're left alone," she said with emotion in her voice. "I really appreciate this project. In addition, I don't see such projects in other companies. We participated in all the events that U. S. Steel Košice prepared for us, and we liked it very much in Medzev. Thank you for the gifts and financial support we received. Thank you for everything." And she did not hide her emotion at the act of the scholarship holder of U. S. Steel Košice, who decided to financially help her son Filip in his studies at university and thus repay the support he received from the company. Empathy that is not easily seen. "We are very, very grateful to him. We would like to meet him in person to get to know him and thank him personally. Hopefully it will work out..."
