A young man's journey from Purple to BUDDY program
26/02/2021

In Purple Foundation, who has the same founders as other Purple companies (see https://www.purple-technology.com/ for more info), we decided to let their employees vote for a charity Christmas donation at the end of 2020. They chose the BUDDY program that helps children in institutional care. The kids build long-term relationships with volunteers who make it easier for them to start their lives after leaving the institutional care. The program was introduced to us by Ivan Sakin – a person that helps with its development. I was surprised that Ivan had a common past with the founders of the Purple Foundation, so I decided to introduce his story and the BUDDY program itself.

Ivan, how did you find yourself in the Purple team at the very beginning?

I studied at the NEWTON College, the alma mater of the founders of the Purple team. When I found out that they were starting the first joint project of a brokerage company, I saw it as a great opportunity to establish something with truly skilled people. It was an exceptional experience to participate in building a great corporate culture.

Afterwards you decided to teach at a primary school in eastern Slovakia, which is quite a radical decision. How did this idea come to life?

I found out that the Teach for Slovakia program was being launched, which is the local version of  a worldwide program where young people are applying to teach at an elementary school for two years. They have to make the most of their skills, gain experience and try to improve the education system. I was really excited about it and gained the courage to join the program, because I knew that the hardest part would be the start.

Schools from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are mostly selected for the program. I taught Roma children aged 11-15 in Dobšiná (a small Slovak town with a population of circa 6 000), where half of them lived in settlements and the other half in shanks in the town.

Is pedagogy something you had inclined to before?

Not at all, it was a huge challenge for me and I was really scared (laughs). I knew, however, I had the experience of starting a brokerage company with global ambitions, where I had learned a ton. This gave me the confidence that I could manage in a different area as well. The fact that it was just starting was a challenge for me and I wanted to help.

Ivan and his pupils from Dobšiná
Ivan and his pupils from Dobšiná

Were there moments when you wanted to leave Dobšiná or the whole program?

I'm quite persistent and the last thing I wanted to do was to leave, but there were a few moments when I wondered whether I can finish the program. Sometimes I was extremely exhausted, however, we formed a strong bond with the children and I promised them I would persevere until the end.

What are your proudest moments from this stage of your life?

Perhaps the most touching were the moments when the children praised me. When they thanked me or told me that I was like their father, that they respected me and they loved me very much for what I was doing for them. Sometimes I couldn't help but cry. These were the strongest moments that gave me the energy when I could no longer go on. 

What do you consider to be the biggest issue in the Slovak education system?

For many years, education has been generally neglected. If we want the best educators to teach, we must also be able to motivate them so that they can afford it in the long run. We lack talented youth in the education system - where there is talent, people can get inspired and level up. 

What was your path to the BUDDY program? 

After two years of teaching, I returned to Bratislava and joined a start-up called Slido. At the same time, Progressive Slovakia, which I evaluated as the most meaningful socio-political start-up in Slovakia was established and I decided to join in. I was in charge of volunteers, members and building the structures of the movement from the ground up.

After some time, I met Laci Kossár (founder of the BUDDY program). I knew Laci understood how to build something solid. He experienced success and wanted to share it. He cares a lot about children. I have experienced how difficult it is to lose a parent at an early age and I can understand, at least in part, how difficult it must be to grow up without a family. Joining the program was a bit like a band-aid for my soul - I felt that I was really helping someone again.

What were the beginnings like?

The BUDDY program has been up and running for almost fifteen years now and is one of high quality and impact on children's lives. I had to learn a lot about its works and the best ways to really help children from institutional care. Like most non-profit projects, this one is fuelled by donations from individual donors and companies. The most important for the program's growth are regular donations, as supporting children must also be stable and long-term.

The more financial resources the program has, the more children we can help, so I started focusing on building relationships with new donors. 

Why should people support your project, why is it exceptional?

It's always about people. Laci and his team are building the BUDDY program to be sustainable, measurable and have a real impact. Everything is done thoughtfully and from their hearts.

Feedback from children and volunteers is regularly collected. Research is also underway in collaboration with a US university and the Slovak Academy of Sciences to determine the program's real impact on children's future in the long term.

How can you prevent the BUDDY volunteers from forming too strong an emotional attachment? 

We have high-quality psychologists who are in touch with our volunteers every month. Their relationship with the children is limited - they spend a few hours once a week together, during which the children's home and psychologist know where they are going and what they are doing.

The strength of the friendship depends on each pair, but first and foremost, there must be trust. The longest friendship I know of has been 10 years in the making and the 26-year-old boy and his BUDDY have become friends for life. However, a BUDDY does not have to support the child financially - they can sometimes treat them to something, but the child should return the favour. When a child gets into trouble, the volunteer does not try to resolve the situation directly, but teaches them how to do it.

Does it ever happen that the BUDDY volunteer and the child simply don't click?

There are very few such cases, because we try to assign a volunteer to a child through a very thorough process. They both have to agree with the match. If they really don't click, we find a replacement for the volunteer. Sometimes it can take a few weeks or months for a child to let the BUDDY volunteer into their world. The longest case we experienced was when the child did not speak for 6 months, but still wanted to meet up. After half a year, they finally started talking and behaved friendly; the volunteer was thrilled. Their child suddenly gave them their trust and it was a huge victory.

How are the volunteers prepared for the first meeting with their kid? Can you describe the process?

The volunteer goes through a selection process where they learn how the program works. Then they are trained to know what to expect and what problems the child may face. It is also important to prepare them not to experience enormous joy in the beginning, as building trust takes time. The whole process from registration to the meeting takes three to six months. The first meeting takes place in the children's home and is accompanied by a coordinator-psychologist who mediates it. It can either be a short meeting, or the pair start talking and bonding right away. The BUDDY volunteers know what to expect and are ready for it. It is both fear and joy.

Is their time together planned according to the child's interests?

We are trying to match the children with their volunteers so that they have some hobbies in common. Usually, they go for a walk first, talk and find out what the child likes doing and whether there is anything the BUDDY is interested in that the child could enjoy as well.

I guess I wouldn't be too successful with my composting and embroidery, would I?

You never know! On the contrary, for the child, the time spent together is so precious that they are oftentimes just happy to be involved.

What is the thing you are the proudest of in the scope of your work?

Doing something that can change or improve another person's life. Sometimes we don't fully realize how lucky we are that we grew up in families, that we have the background and parents who support us. Ending up in institutional care could have easily happened to anybody. Talking to people and them realizing it is a huge progress itself. Being able to empathize with someone who is struggling more than us.

 

Feel free to contact us at info@purple-foundation.com or at 
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