From Japan to Slovakia: International volunteers transform community centre for children in Dobšiná

DOBŠINÁ, SLOVAKIA – October 2026 – Nearly 20 volunteers from eight countries joined Habitat for Humanity and the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group to renovate a community centre supporting children and families affected by generational poverty in Slovakia. Their efforts were complemented by more than 42 million steps taken by employees worldwide through the Donate Your Steps initiative.

What once was a deteriorating wall threatening the safety of children and families is now a newly renovated, colourful fence. Brighter rooms, new windows and improved outdoor spaces have also transformed the Domček Community Centre in Dobšiná, eastern Slovakia, following an international volunteering initiative organised by Habitat for Humanity in partnership with the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group.

From 1 to 8 October 2026, nineteen employees of VKR Group companies travelled from Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Ireland and Croatia to support the renovation. Some spent more than 30 hours travelling to reach the small Slovak town.

For one week, they exchanged their offices for work gloves, hammers, paintbrushes and shovels, working side by side to improve a centre that has supported local children and families for 13 years.

A safer and brighter place for children and families

Operated by the local association Detstvo deťom, Domček provides an important space for children and families affected by generational poverty. Through educational activities, early childhood development and family support, the centre helps children prepare for school and provides families with opportunities to build a better future.

For years, one of the centre’s greatest concerns was its deteriorating boundary wall. Parts of the old structure had been gradually collapsing into the courtyard, creating a serious safety risk for the children, parents and staff using the premises.

During the volunteering week, the team demolished the unsafe wall, removed debris, prepared the foundations and helped construct a new, colourful wooden fence. Volunteers also painted, repaired and improved different parts of the property.

For Eleonóra Liptáková from Detstvo deťom, seeing the work completed brought enormous relief.

“I cannot describe how happy and grateful I am that we finally managed to get this done. For years, we watched the old wall deteriorate, knowing that parts of it could collapse into our courtyard at any moment. It was a constant threat to the safety and health of the children and families coming to our centre. Today, seeing the new fence standing here, I feel an enormous sense of relief. Our children finally have a safer place to play, learn and grow,” said Liptáková.

The transformation was not limited to the outdoor space. The volunteers also helped replace the centre’s windows, significantly improving the atmosphere inside the building.
The women working at Domček were particularly delighted with the new windows. They explained that the slimmer window frames allow considerably more natural light to enter the rooms, making the entire interior feel brighter, more welcoming and more pleasant for the children and families who spend time there.

Beyond the physical improvements, the volunteers left behind a special gift: a world map marking the countries from which they had travelled to Dobšiná. Displayed at the centre, it will serve as a lasting reminder to the children that people from across the world came together to support their community.

Thousands of kilometres travelled to make a difference

For many participants, the experience was as much about human connection as it was about construction.

Jeffery Bacon travelled approximately 33 hours from Aotearoa, New Zealand, to join the project. As a father of two, he wanted to demonstrate to his children the importance of helping others.

“I wanted to set an example for my children – to come here and personally do something extra,” he explained.

His 11-year-old daughter also contributed in her own way. Using money she had saved, she bought a small stuffed kiwi bird and asked her father to bring it to the children in Slovakia.

“My daughter wanted to give something to the children. She saved her own money, bought this little kiwi in New Zealand and asked me to bring it here. She wanted to share a little piece of New Zealand with them,” Bacon said.

Fiona Barry, who travelled approximately 32 hours from Sydney, Australia, spent her first days digging, clearing debris and preparing the outdoor areas.

“By the end of the day, we could already see that we had made a difference. It wasn’t the final result yet, of course, but we could see the progress. Watching that transformation was incredibly rewarding,” she recalled.

For Marta Wyszka from Poland, joining an international volunteering project had been a long-standing dream. As a mother, she felt particularly connected to the centre’s mission.

“No child should have to experience such a childhood. No child should struggle to access education or the opportunity to grow up in good conditions. Children should be happy, and children should simply be children,” she said.

After days of physically demanding work, demolishing the old wall and clearing bricks, Marta summed up what she hoped the volunteers would leave behind:

“I hope we change this place. I hope it will be safe and colourful for the children. And I hope we leave hope behind. Hope for these children.”

A global community united by volunteering

The Dobšiná initiative brought together people with different backgrounds, languages and experiences, united by a shared commitment to helping others.

For Kazuhiko Nakatani from Japan, it was his first visit to Slovakia and an unusual opportunity to participate in international volunteering.

“I’m not very used to volunteering. Maybe it is not so common in Japan. But for me, it is wonderful that I can volunteer here,” he shared.

Others, such as Gitte Hemmingsen from the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group, were already familiar with Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteering projects. Dobšiná marked her fourth volunteering experience with Habitat, following previous projects in Romania and Poland.

“Coming here, hearing the story of this place and understanding what we are actually contributing to gives everything a much deeper meaning,” she explained.

According to Gitte, the impact of such experiences often extends well beyond the construction site.

“We still have WhatsApp groups from previous years, and they are still active. We continue wishing each other Merry Christmas or happy birthday. It is really lovely.”

These lasting friendships reflect an important dimension of the partnership: volunteering not only improves physical spaces but also creates connections between people and communities that might otherwise never meet.

More than 42 million steps taken for a common purpose

The volunteering initiative in Dobšiná was complemented by another global employee engagement activity organised through the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group: Donate Your Steps 2026.

Between 1 and 8 October, employees across the world were encouraged to contribute their daily steps towards a shared goal, transforming physical activity into financial support for Habitat for Humanity’s work.

The results demonstrated the collective power of small individual actions:

42,758,049 steps recorded worldwide
727 participants taking part
175 teams contributing to the challenge

Through this initiative, the steps recorded by employees were translated into financial support for Habitat for Humanity, demonstrating how employees can contribute to positive change even when they cannot participate in volunteering activities in person.

Together, the international volunteering project and Donate Your Steps campaign illustrate how employee engagement can mobilise people across borders, bringing together hands-on volunteering, collective action and financial contributions to support communities in need.

The true cost of home goes beyond housing expenses

The volunteering initiative in Dobšiná took place during the week of World Habitat Day, when Habitat for Humanity released its new global research, Home at What Cost?.

Based on responses from 30,758 people across 22 countries, the research reveals that the true cost of housing extends far beyond rent or mortgage payments. It also includes the sacrifices people make to keep a roof over their heads, often at the expense of their health, financial security and well-being.

The findings highlight the scale of the challenge:

75% of respondents reported cutting back on at least one expense in the past year because of housing costs.
33% reduced spending on food or groceries.
32% used savings or emergency funds to manage housing expenses.
13% postponed or skipped healthcare because of housing-related financial pressures.

These findings reinforce an important message: a safe and decent place to live is closely connected to people’s health, stability and opportunities in life.

While the challenges faced by families in Dobšiná are shaped by their own local circumstances, the work of Domček reflects the same fundamental principle. A safe, supportive environment can make a meaningful difference to children’s development, their families’ well-being and their opportunities for the future.

By improving the physical conditions of the centre, the volunteers contributed to a space where children can learn, play and grow in greater safety and comfort.

Building stronger communities, together

The partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group began in 2022 and has since supported community development through international volunteering and other joint initiatives.

The renovation in Dobšiná is another example of how this collaboration translates into tangible improvements for local communities.

For the children and families visiting Domček, the results are visible every day: a safer courtyard, a colourful new fence, brighter rooms and a more welcoming environment.

And for the volunteers who travelled thousands of kilometres to make these changes possible, the experience offered something equally valuable: the opportunity to connect with people, understand their circumstances and contribute directly to a better future.

The world map left behind at Domček now tells a simple but powerful story. People from eight countries, some from the other side of the world, came together in a small Slovak town to make a difference.

Their work will remain part of the everyday lives of the children and families who call Domček their community space.

A local story that captured national attention

The international volunteering initiative in Dobšiná also attracted significant attention from Slovak media, bringing the story of Domček and its community to audiences far beyond the town itself.

The project was featured in national television news broadcasts on TV JOJ and Slovak public broadcaster STVR, as well as in STVR’s regional programme Regina. The Slovak News Agency (TASR) also covered the initiative, with its reporting subsequently picked up by several online news outlets. Regional broadcaster TV Reduta further helped share the story with local audiences.

This media attention highlighted not only the dedication of volunteers who travelled from around the world, but also the challenges faced by families experiencing generational poverty and the importance of community-based organisations working to support them.

Watch the media coverage and discover the story of Dobšiná:

The attention received by the initiative demonstrates how a local community project, supported by international cooperation and employee volunteering, can inspire a much wider conversation about solidarity, opportunity and the importance of safe spaces for children and families.