Meeting the Athletes

Just an ordinary day. Around lunchtime. The streets of the settlement are busy. Some children are going to school, some children are coming back from school. The Local Coordinator Rasťo talks to a group of women sitting on the bench. Tutors Florián and Ján are planning activities for the afternoon. “How many children are you taking to Sabinov?” Boys eagerly await further instructions. “Ok, so meet you by the school at 2 PM.” Ján is in charge of the athletic team. Each Tuesday they take a bus to the town of Sabinov; they rent a gym from the local secondary school.

A tall black-haired woman is already waiting for them in the hallway. Danka Dlugošová, athletic educator. She is a natural authority to boys. She quickly settles down even the tallest “rascals”. First they run track and then they exercise with balls. Today they are playing volleyball. I use the time to ask Danka a few questions.

Why did you decide to cooperate on the Jarovnice project?
Danka: I was asked by the Principal of the Special Elementary School in Jarovnice, Mrs. Lukáčová. And since I love to move and do sports all year round I decided to accept this offer. I also teach other Romany children, I wanted to help them get out of the settlement.

What kind of change would you like to see after 2 – 3 years?
Danka: The greatest change would be if at least a few children made it. The easiest thing would be through soccer. We have a lot of good soccer and volleyball players. I think it would be a success if we managed to place at least one child into a local soccer team and one into a volleyball team.

How did the time spent with children enrich and influence you personally?
Danka: Hard question. Me personally? I always feel excited when these children want to do something. That is the foundation of it all. I also teach other children and they always go “I dunno”, “I don't feel like it”, “I don't want to”. It is a joy to see the progress the Jarovnice children make, how they improve.

The day is not over when the practice is over. They travel back to Jarovnice, right into the Special Elementary. The tutor Janko takes out the dictation book and athletes resume their places behind desks. “The tower clock chimed to announce the six o'clock hour”. They are all writing conscientiously. The same is happening in the next room – a group with the tutor Rudo. Today they practice dictation, another day they will learn for example how to discuss in a group. The children listen and literally soak up information. Why not, the tutor is their friend and understands what he does. As they are leaving they are already looking forward to the next day.