Občianské združenie

At KASPIAN, we adhere to the motto of promoting regular sports among children and young people with whom we come in contact. When we talk about children’s health during this time, more than ever before, we mean not only their physical condition but also their mental state.

Although we have independent and skilled athletes in the field who are motivated, support for sports and a helping hand is needed. Not everyone who is passionate about riding has the opportunity to have their own scooter or tools for its repair. Therefore, especially during the summer months, we bring scooters with us as part of our service that children can borrow. Helmets, first aid kits, BMX bikes, and others are also included. Through sports, children can spend time meaningfully in the skatepark, even if they do not have their own sports equipment or if it is in the shop for repairs. 😊

It is sometimes more challenging in the club as not everyone wants to play sports when they have a PlayStation, cards, and many board games at hand. That is why, since April, we have gradually been renewing our arsenal of favorite sports equipment, especially accessories for table tennis, a boxing trainer, and balls. In addition to proven needs, we have also purchased unusual games such as spikeball or a set for archery, which has become a big hit.

We are grateful to our partners – MČ Bratislava – Petržalka, korcule.com, bonkybike, and IUVENTA – for allowing us to help and lend so many interesting sports needs to children and young people.

Thank you!

During our many years of work with young people, we also encounter various types of drugs, whether prohibited or tolerated. The most common are alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine products. In addition to cigarette smoking, the use of chewing tobacco or snus is also very common. It is approximately equally common, but less noticeable since it is applied under the upper lip, where it is usually not visible. The user also does not smell it and can use it almost anywhere and anytime.

Chewing tobacco is known mainly as small pouches filled with moist tobacco, which contains a variety of additives that are dangerous and harmful. These include nitrosamines and carcinogens, which are possible triggers for many types of cancer. There are many brands and types of chewing tobacco. Typical for chewing tobacco users is frequent spitting due to the release of the additives.

Snus is also known as small pouches, similar to chewing tobacco. Unlike chewing tobacco, however, it does not contain tobacco, but synthetic nicotine, which also contains harmful additives. Snus users do not spit like chewing tobacco users, as snus is pasteurized with steam. Studies show that snus is the “healthiest” way to use nicotine.

The addiction that is difficult to overcome

Chewing tobacco or snus have in common that they contain nicotine, which is addictive. It is absorbed through the oral mucosa and gradually penetrates the brain, where addiction is created as easily as smoking. Even easier, because it contains up to 5 times more nicotine than a regular cigarette. Tobacco addiction is classified as a disease by the International Classification of Diseases. Nicotine meets key criteria for addiction, including compulsive and unwanted use and repeated attempts to quit.

Why is it harmful?

Even though chewing tobacco and snus cause lung cancer the least out of all nicotine products, they can cause many other types of cancer – gum, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, stomach, etc. – as well as many other serious illnesses. These products cause increased tooth decay and periodontitis, as well as life-threatening cardiovascular disease. The possibility of overdose is also dangerous, as they are much stronger than, for example, cigarettes. Some users even use two “pouches” at once to make their lips look symmetrical and not show that they have them applied.

As usual, KASPIAN organized a community event called PIK-NIK, which people from the local community in Petržalka and the wider public could enjoy.

This year, the event took place on a sunny Saturday afternoon, on September 4, 2021, on Furdekova street.

Both adults and children, families with kids, and even grandparents attended the PIK-NIK. Over 200 visitors came to enjoy the family atmosphere and spend time with their neighbors, friends, and acquaintances.

For children, creative workshops were prepared where they could make lanterns or bracelets with the help of our volunteers – Adi and Katka. The big inflatable castle also caught attention and was fully occupied during the event. The sporting spirit was also visible in table tennis, football, and slackline competitions. Giant board games like Connect Four or life-size Tic-Tac-Toe added to the playful atmosphere.

The skilled moderator Martin Žák, who grew up in Petržalka and had a strong affection for it, engaged people throughout the whole event. He also prepared an interesting play “About a Spoon from Banská Štiavnica” for the youngest visitors.

Throughout the day, the talented band Majdur&band played their own songs on the double bass, cimbalom, guitars, and viola, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Mothers with the youngest children had access to 10 stations with proven Montessori activities, which were verypopular. The grand finale of our program was an attractive light show by artists from Anta Agni.

But that wasn’t all! Visitors could choose from tasty refreshments in our food zone throughout the whole event. We offered hot dogs, various pastries, grilled cheese, and hermelin cheese. Visitors could also enjoy fresh fruit or refresh themselves with lemonades completely for free. We know that everyone enjoyed the food because we sold almost everything. Our friends from “Café Mobil” prepared excellent coffee for us throughout the whole Saturday, as usual.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our partners, especially LIDL Slovakia, the ZSE Foundation, the City of Bratislava, and Heineken, without whose support PIK-NIK 2021 would not have been as great as it was.

We also don’t forget our volunteers who took care of the event from the beginning to the end, making sure that everything went smoothly. We would like to thank our photographer Lucia Cabajova, who not only took pictures but also captured moments of the irreplaceable atmosphere that accompanied the PIK-NIK throughout the day. Thank you, without you, it wouldn’t be possible.

On Sunday (August 15), after several years of hiatus, Scoot Jam 21 took place! The freestyle scooter competition was organized in less than a month of intensive collaboration with the competition partner Korcule.com and a young organizing team consisting of the riders themselves.

It was they who came up with the initiative to organize the competition, which used to be popular in the past. The team’s work meetings took place mostly online this time. Children and youth were also involved in preparing the area for the competition and the riders.

At the Scoot Jam 21 competition, scooter riders competed in three categories: amateurs, advanced, and pro. We firmly believe that the next edition will also include a street category.

We would like to thank the competition partners Korcule.com and Lidl Slovenská republika, v.o.s., as well as all volunteers, without whom it would not have been possible to organize the Scoot Jam 21 competition and support meaningful leisure activities for children and youth!

Riders placements:

Qualification – Amateurs:

Kevický 188b

Falcan 183b

Baňár 152b

Ondrejka 149b

Pozník 147b

Riso 146b / Brestovanský 146b

Novota 133b

Chrappa 131b

Bak 128b

Kotlár 116b / Horák 116b

Záhor 111b (withdrew due to injury)

Forman 102b

Sláviková 89b

Gajdošik 82b

Múčka 81b / Majerník 81b

Fekete 79b

Qualification – Advanced:

Cársky 192b

Ladics 181b

Gajdošik 180b

Baďura 167b

Staraba 156b

Luptak 155b

Vejmelka 141b

Janáč 134b

Šišolák 133b

Zeman 128b

Matúš 119b

Kusý – disqualified / Rumíšek – not qualified

Final – Amateurs:

Kevický 198b

Baňár 193b

Falcan 176b

Riso 155b

Pozník 149b

Brestovanský 135b / Ondrejka 135b

Final – Advanced:

Cársky 187b

Luptak 179b

Ladics 172b

Gajdošik 169b

Baďura 160b

Staraba 157b

Final – Pro:

Goldschmidt 207b

Šmida 190b

Duraj 182b

Andreutti 181b

Hubina 146b

As part of our previously mentioned survey and continuous work with “kids” (meaning children and adolescents aged 7-23 with whom we work) during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, we had the opportunity to map how the behavior of young people in relation to alcohol has changed. In general, it was found that a certain group of young people reduced their alcohol consumption during the lockdown period due to the absence of social opportunities associated with drinking. On the other hand, the group of young people who were already accustomed to drinking alcohol outside of these occasions, for whom alcohol consumption was no longer just an experiment, often drank more than before the pandemic.

As we mentioned earlier, the summer period is a crisis period in terms of alcohol consumption among young people. Our field workers often deal with situations related to alcohol abuse or overdose in young people they encounter on the streets or in public spaces. Based on years of experience, we can summarize our observations as follows:

1. Boys tend to consume alcohol more frequently, while girls often try to match boys in binge drinking in groups, which puts them in high-risk situations such as alcohol poisoning, injury, drowning, etc. This is often related to their smaller body size and lower weight.
2. The summer phenomenon is experimenting with combining alcohol with drugs or “braking” or “diluting” alcohol with energy drinks. These combinations often cause unpredictable reactions in the body that can be health or even life-threatening and often end up with calling emergency medical help with subsequent hospitalization.
3. Young people obtain alcohol by purchasing it from selected small vendors or by using the help of homeless people, whom they contribute to for alcohol in exchange for the service of buying alcohol.

In our practice, our assumptions have been confirmed that with the easing of pandemic restrictions, this summer will be more risky in terms of young people’s alcohol use than in previous years. It is as if they are intensively catching up on missed “social events” associated with alcohol consumption. Therefore, they currently use every possible excuse for intensive group alcohol consumption with the aim of getting drunk – the end of the school year, birthdays, name days, successful commissioning exams, or, conversely, unsuccessful commissioning exams, and so on. Often, young people do not even enjoy the taste of alcohol, but they want to quickly achieve a state of intoxication. This does not always work for them because rapid drinking quickly puts them into a phase of feeling nauseous and uncomfortable. However, this experience does not always discourage them from similar behavior in the near future.

How do we work with young people under the influence? We are generally very pragmatic – we minimize the risks in which they may find themselves due to alcohol abuse – we try to get them to a safe environment (away from bodies of water, traffic, riding bikes or scooters, etc.).

It is good to replenish fluids for the intoxicated (clean water, or sweetened tea, which also replenishes the lost sugar). This may result in vomiting, but vomiting is also welcome in case of alcohol poisoning. It is good to speak to the person under the influence in a simple, appropriate volume and handle touches carefully so that they do not feel threatened and do not react aggressively.

In the case of alcohol poisoning, which is not uncommon among young people (due to their smaller and unaccustomed bodies), do not hesitate to call for an ambulance. Without exaggeration, it can be said that this can save a young life.

In such situations, it makes no sense to “preach” to intoxicated young people. We try to find time for a conversation about what happened, their motivations, and reasons when they are fully able to perceive it.

Since these situations occur in public places, the behavior of these young people and our reactions are often observed by other children and adolescents. We can communicate with them about alcohol immediately if possible. If there is an opportunity, one of the team can deal with the observing group, and if the situation requires the collaboration of both field workers, they can return to this topic at the nearest contact.

The aim of this article was mainly to talk about our observations and practice, which is based on recommended methodologies and procedures. If you need more information on this topic, you can visit websites such as ROZUMNE.SK. If you need advice regarding your loved one, you can use our counseling services.

In today’s article we will focus on the topic of energy drinks, as in practice we meet more and more young people and children who like to consume them. We decided to cover this topic because only few people know what energy drinks are and how they affect our body.

Some history:

Employers in Japan wanted to keep their employees as fit as possible, so they could continue working and the average production would not decrease. However, they were only humans and often hard manual workers. Therefore, it is not surprising that, like any human being, they were subject to fatigue during physical exertion.

However, employers understandably didn’t like that, so they needed something that would keep workers awake longer and increase their performance. And so, in 1962 energy drinks came to world, in form we know them nowadays.

What exactly are energy drinks?

Energy drinks are non-alcoholic drinks that are sold for the purpose of increased energy, stamina, sports performance, or concentration. They differ from other soft drinks because of their high caffeine content (50 to 500 mg, Redbull 80) and are often supplemented with other substances as taurine, guarana, ginseng, and others.

These drinks represent a risk especially for young a healthy individual and can be one of the causes of obesity or cardiovascular diseases. They are becoming more and more popular among young people, with most of them consuming them mainly for the taste or combination with alcohol. Young adults make approx. 2/3 of the energy drink market.

What effect do they have on the human body?

Energy drinks have an effect to a certain extent on almost entire organism.

They affect, for example:

• central nervous system
• cardiovascular diseases
• tooth decay
• obesity
• diabetes mellitus
• ADHD

Energy drinks contain several components that independently cause body to become dependent on these substances. Their combination increases the risk of addiction. These are mainly caffeine, taurine and less significantly contained sugars.

Symptoms of overdose:

• restlessness, anxiety, fear, panic disorders
• insomnia
• excessive sweating
• high blood pressure, headaches, visual disturbances
• heart rhythm disorders
• heart failure, death
• accelerated and shallow breathing to respiratory disorders

Withdrawal symptoms

• redness in the face
• excessive sweating
• psychomotor restlessness
• irritability, aggressiveness
• confusion to hallucinations
• limb tremors
• nausea, vomiting

Interesting facts:

• As of 2016, the global consumption of energy drinks was over 11 billion liters per year
• Once can of coca cola contains about 30 mg of caffeine, a cup of coffee contains up to 100 mg of caffeine, and an energy drink has an average of 80 to 100 mg of caffeine
• In some countries, the sale and consumption of energy drinks is prohibited under the age of 18, as in the case with tobacco products. For example, in Sweden, this limit is shifted to 15 years
• In Denmark, Turkey and Uruguay there is a complete ban on the sale and consumption of energy drinks due to their negative impact on health

Sources:

1. Kemps, E., Tiggemann, M., Cibich, M., & Cabala, A. (2019). Cognitive bias modification for energy drink cues. PLoS ONE, 14(12), e0226387.
2. Simulescu, V., Ilia, G., Macarie, L., & Merghes, P. (2019). Sport and energy drinks consumption before, during and after training. Science & Sports, 34(1), 3–9.
3. Statista Research Department (2016). Sales volume of energy drinks worldwide 2015/2018. Retrieved 19. 5. 2020 from the World Wide Web: https://www.statista.com/statistics/639965/sales-volumeenergy-drinks-worldwide
4. Sýkorová, Lucia. 2020. Energetické nápoje: Ako ich zloženie vplýva na zdravie? + Riziká. In Zdravoteka. [online]

OKO or Object Competencies Online is an educational game available on the internet for everyone. Through it, individuals can educate themselves in various areas that are relevant to children, parents, volunteers, and the general public. In the game, players choose how they would likely react in model situations, and the result is developmental feedback and links to complementary information and verified sources on the topic.

The development of this game began in 2015, initially aimed at bringing the idea of volunteerism and the benefits of working with youth closer to students, volunteers, and supporters. Today, it has become a successful concept for approaching various current topics related to our work. We have gradually expanded its content to include new simulations and episodes, with currently four available. During their creation, we collaborated with partners such as the Slovak Scouting, Inex Slovakia, the Association of Low-Threshold Programs for Children and Youth, Luducrafts, and IPčko.

The first episode, “Volunteer,” was created as a tool for spreading the idea of volunteering and the benefits associated with working with children and youth. In this episode, the player can experience the role of a worker in youth work, testing and verifying their skills and abilities in simulations of specific and real situations.

In 2016, we created the second game episode, “Project Coordinator,” where the player solves situations when organizing events such as tournaments or trips for children and youth. The episode is aimed at developing organizational skills, project management, and critical thinking.

In 2018, we focused on parents and adults working with children and youth, bringing them an educational game called “Let’s Talk About Alcohol.” The content of this episode includes situations that one may encounter in everyday life, such as family celebrations, encountering an intoxicated neighbor or homeless person, or situations when a teenager comes home under the influence of alcohol.

The latest expansion was the fourth episode, focused on the topic of internet safety. By creating this episode, we responded to what we see every day – people lacking information, often believing in various hoaxes, or having their lives negatively influenced by the internet. Internet use can be developmental, but also pathological. It mainly concerns social media activities, publishing various content and personal information, hoaxes, making contact with strangers, and cyberbullying. Through the game, parents and workers with youth can test their knowledge and skills in this topic, gain interesting information and resources, and receive new stimuli on how to react in situations related to the use of internet technologies.

The game can be found on the KASPIAN website or directly at https://www.objavkompetencieonline.sk/. Alternatively, it can also be found on the organization’s Facebook page by searching for “Objav kompetencie online.”

Currently, we are preparing materials to expand the fourth episode. During the development of the game, we realized that it is essential to divide the internet game by age. Not only because children and young people “operate” with the internet differently in various age groups, but also because working with different age groups requires different forms of communication. Since even 3-year-olds regularly have contact with phones/PCs and the internet, the scope of the topic is enormous. Therefore, the first part of the fourth episode is focused on children up to 10 years old. We are currently working on expanding the game with subchapters that would enrich the simulations for age categories 11-15 years and 16 years and above, and we are looking for a sponsor to finance a game programmer.

Through this game, we aim to support parents and workers with youth to be open and talk to children and young people about topics in which they may not always feel comfortable. Because what we can all do in preventing pathological phenomena is to take an interest in the world of children and youth and communicate with them about things that interest them and that they live with.

Finally, here are some current statistics for the game in 2021:

Game Statistics 2021 Number of games played Number of games successfully completed

1. Coordinator      4550          1721

2. Volunteer         11075         5546

3. Alcohol             876            371

4. Internet            1426          688

Total                     17927        8226

KASPIAN – we know the stories of today’s children, but we also care about the community.

In recent years, we have deliberately focused our activities on the local community with whom we are in direct contact every day. The goal is to support community life in this area, support the parenting skills of parents of young children, and improve the wider public’s understanding of the target group with whom we work year-round.

Therefore, in 2019 we started activities that were not only focused on our main target group but on the wider community as well.

Naturally, in 2020, community activities were the ones most affected by the pandemic. The truth is that we were unable to carry out many of our activities, but we were happy that at least some of them were successful – especially our summer and winter activities, which we want to continue this year.

So, what is the cherry on top of our year-round activities?

Summer Reading – for the third year in a row, parents, grandparents, and young children can enjoy reading children’s books on beanbags in the shade of large trees. Beanbags and books at the playground in front of the club are really occupied every sunny day, except for Tuesday, when we have Monte Summer prepared for both younger and older children.

Monte Summer – activities inspired by Montessori pedagogy enliven our playground during July and August. Children can develop their skills at attractive stations that change every week.

Sports Day – is a day when family members strengthen their relationships through sports and good mood in front of KASPIAN during the summer. Families with children have the opportunity to try out many sports and water activities, earning points, and at the end, they receive a sweet reward or prizes.

Pik-Nik – is a community event in September, when it gets dark, creating an unmistakable autumn, intimate atmosphere. This event, aimed at the general public, includes sports and cultural activities, bubble and creative workshops, musical performances, tasty refreshments, fire or light shows, and much more. Although we were unable to organize Pik-Nik last year, we believe that this year will be different, and we will finally be able to enjoy the eighth edition of our traditional event.

Advent Wreath Making – offers the opportunity to make your own original wreath and choose from a colorful, creative material. With this event on the first Advent Sunday, we welcome the Christmas season and enjoy a neighborhood atmosphere. In 2020, we managed to organize it, even in smaller groups.

In addition to the annual activities, we have managed to build a useful herb garden with the community and beautify the playground by painting it. Community activities are popular with people from the local and wider community, and for us, they are a time when we can naturally introduce our work and get to know each other better.

Thank you for the support of expodom.sk, who donated a quick-folding scissors tent in our favorite green color, which we will use in all weather conditions for community events.