From Critical Thinking and Mental Health to More Cohesive Communities: Impact Lab Continues to Help Slovak Civic Sector

Impact Lab is entering another year with a new group of organisations committed to bringing systemic solutions to social challenges. Expert committees have selected a total of 31 projects that will take part in one of two development programmes over the coming months: the Accelerator or the Incubator. The aim of Impact Lab is not only to help civil society organisations develop high-quality projects, but also to strengthen their capacity to drive long-term systemic change where society needs it most. 

Eleven organisations with established projects ready for further growth advanced from the Bootcamp to the Impact Lab Accelerator. In addition to a financial support of up to €60,000, they will receive four months of individual mentoring from experts who will help them strengthen the impact of their solutions. 

The selected projects address issues that have a significant impact on quality of life in Slovakia today, from the strengthening of societal resilience to support for vulnerable groups. 

DEKK Institute will develop a practical guide to strengthening social cohesion in Slovakia. Drawing on its own data and international experience, it will offer recommendations to policymakers and public on how to address growing polarisation. 

The New Security Threats Institute will establish an Academy for Resilience to New Security Threats. This practical educational programme will help members of parliament, public administration professionals and civil society organisations better identify hybrid threats, strategic corruption and other risks affecting the functioning of democratic institutions. 

An example of how Impact Lab can support organisations as they grow is the Kockáči civic association. They joined the programme in 2024 through the Incubator, where they developed their idea. Two years later, they are returning to the Accelerator with a project built on proven results, helping schools develop digital skills and make use of artificial intelligence in education.  

Supported Accelerator Projects 

Education (7 projects) 

• Way Out
  Project name: ZEBRA – Standardising and Developing the Programme for Young People of Generational Poverty
  Approved funding: €60,000 

• EDI Slovakia
  Project name: Healthy SELF for Schools
  Approved funding: €59,972 

• Impact Games
  Project name: Growth Compass by Gamifactory
  Approved funding: €59,478 

• Kockáči
  Project name: Kockáči
  Approved funding: €60,000 

• Platform of Volunteer Centres and Organizations
  Project name: Engaged Community
  Approved funding: €38,825 

• POST BELLUM SK
  Project name: Memory vs. Manipulation: How to Teach History in the Age of Disinformation
  Approved funding: €60,000 

• Female Algorithm
  Project name: Confidence Algorithm: A Programme for a More Resilient Generation of Girls
  Approved funding: €59,920 

Democracy and the Rule of Law (4 projects) 

• DEKK Institute
  Project name: How to Systematically Strengthen Social Cohesion in Slovakia, Step by Step
  Approved funding: €60,000 

• Institute for New Security Threats
  Project name: Academy for Resilience to New Security Threats
  Approved funding: €60,000 

• Platform of Families of Children with Disabilities
  Project name: From Law to Reality – Parents as Agents of Change
  Approved funding: €59,996 

• Transparency International Slovakia
  Project name: From Campaign Integrity to Integrity in Governance
  Approved funding: €58,985 

As part of the Impact Lab Bootcamp, organisations received three individual consultations with experts on topics of their own choice. 

For the Impact Lab Incubator, we selected 20 organisations which are currently developing their projects. The Incubator focuses primarily on stabilizing smaller organisations. We offer them an educational programme consisting of workshops on financial sustainability, impact monitoring and the overall setup – skills designed to ensure that the organisations operate sustainably and that their activities have the greatest possible impact. The support also includes a grant of up to €30,000 to implement a specific project. An added benefit for the attendees is the opportunity to connect with one another and draw inspiration from experienced organisations in the Impact Lab Accelerator. 

This year, cultural organisations have a particularly strong presence in the Incubator. Through art and culture, they respond to current social challenges and explore new ways of working with communities. 

Through its IMPULZ project, Divadlo Pôtoň (Pôtoň Theatre) aims to create a space for the development of cultural leaders in the regions and strengthen cooperation among cultural actors outside major cities. 

Kultúrne Koncepty (Cultural Concepts) are preparing the Museum of Values for Schools! project, which will bring topics such as democracy, values and critical thinking directly into education through experiential activities. 

KC PRIESTOR (SPACE Cultural Centre) is focusing its project on protecting the mental health of young people and creating a safe space where they can openly talk about difficult topics and develop their psychological resilience. 

Supported Incubator Projects 

Education (12 projects) 

• Albín
  Project name: Resilience Lab: From Creativity to Resilience
  Approved funding: €28,778 

• ANČA
  Project name: Fest Anča Edu
  Approved funding: €28,050 

• AUTLAND
  Project name: AUTINOS
  Approved funding: €29,525 

• eduB
  Project name: Scientific Literacy: The Path to a Resilient Society
  Approved funding: €29,969 

• Emus Nexus
  Project name: AI and Disinformation in the Classroom
  Approved funding: €30,000 

• FIRST Global Slovakia
  Project name: RoboSkillz Academy
  Approved funding: €30,000 

• KC PRIESTOR (SPACE Cultural Centre)
  Project name: HEAR.Beyond
  Approved funding: €29,969 

• Kultúrne Koncepty (Cultural Concepts)
  Project name: Museum of Values for Schools!
  Approved funding: €29,910 

• Pôtoň
  Project name: IMPULZ
  Approved funding: €29,923 

• Prešov Volunteer Center
  Project name: GOODWILL at Schools
  Approved funding: €29,816 

• Truly Healthy School
  Project name: Truly Healthy School
  Approved funding: €30,000 

• Slovak Eco Quality
  Project name: Wellbeing Zone: The Youth in Balance
  Approved funding: €29,652 

Democracy and the Rule of Law (8 projects) 

• Future Slovakia Forum
  Project name: From Analysis to Practice
  Approved funding: €30,000 

• Institute for Economic and Social Reforms
  Project name: PDKO
  Approved funding: €29,988 

• Po pôrode inak (Postpartum Differently)
  Project name: Postpartum Differently
  Approved funding: €24,582 

• Pracujúce mamy (Working Mothers)
  Project name: From Parenthood to Career
  Approved funding: €29,775 

• Law Institute
  Project name: RIGHT TO EQUALITY
  Approved funding: €30,000 

• SIGNUM – Rainbow Christians
  Project name: Strengthening Support for LGBTI+ Christians in Slovakia
  Approved funding: €29,440 

• Vietnamese Roots
  Project name: MIGRA
  Approved funding: €27,285 

• Women’s Circles
  Project name: When Women Know Their Rights
  Approved funding: €30,000 

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Co-financed by the European Union within the ImpactAS 2 – Impact Acceleration of Slovak CSOs 2 (ImpactAS II) project. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.