By FFWPU Slovakia
On Saturday, June 20, the community center in Dunajská Lužná, Slovakia, hosted a vibrant Big Family Day. The unique event combined four major celebrations—Mother’s Day, Children’s Day, Family Day, and Father’s Day—into a single festival of love, joy, gratitude, and shared friendship.
Approximately 70 participants from Bratislava, Nitra, and Dunajská Lužná gathered for the festivities. National leader Miroslav Rybár opened the event by emphasizing the vital role of family in today’s world. He spoke on the importance of strengthening relationships amid the modern family crisis, sharing a profound vision of building “one family under God.”
Program Highlights:
- Multicultural Performances: The audience enjoyed poetry and songs performed in several different languages.
- Martial Arts: A dynamic demonstration of Chinese martial arts captivated the guests.
- Interactive Quiz: Sister Jana Hernandez from Mexico prepared a lively quiz competition that engaged all age groups.
- Outdoor Activities: Children and youth spent the afternoon enjoying sports and creative art activities in the garden.
The memorable day concluded with a delicious community barbecue dinner.
“Thank You Lord, thank you Lord, it was a wonderful day!” — Participants left feeling deeply grateful, echoing the lyrics of a popular Christian song.
Promoting Peace and Social Awareness
At the same time, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Slovakia organized two impactful public events focused on conflict resolution and vital social advocacy.
Lecture: “Conflict Resolution and Transformation”
Dr. Juraj Lajda, President of UPF Czech Republic, delivered a thought-provoking lecture exploring the mechanics of lasting peace. Key takeaways included:
- A Continuous Effort: Peace is not a static state but a long-term, continuous effort rooted in mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
- Debunking Myths: Dr. Lajda challenged the misconception that human beings are innately violent, arguing instead that peace inherently begins at the individual level.
- A Call to Leadership: He urged political leaders to look past superficial differences and focus on shared, mutual interests to transform conflicts effectively.
Campaign: “The Fight Against Drugs”
To mark the UN’s International Day Against Drug Abuse, UPF Slovakia hosted a specialized event highlighting successful drug prevention and education programs.
- Inspiring Testimony: A featured speaker shared his personal transformation from an athlete to a dedicated anti-drug advocate, a mission that has allowed him to reach over 35,000 students.
- Spotlight on Prevention: The event highlighted the “Slovakia Without Drugs” project, an initiative that has delivered thousands of educational presentations to youth nationwide.
Following the presentations, the event concluded with an informal reception featuring homemade cakes, fostering warm community engagement and deeper conversation on these critical topics.