Slovakia 2008

Officially, The Slovak Republic came into existence on January 1, 1993.   Except for a brief period during World War II, during which Slovakia was a protectorate state of Nazi Germany, the Slovak people have been subjected to domination by stronger political entities, such as the Czechs of the Czechoslovak federation, the Magyars of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the sovereigns of the Habsburg Empire.

Although the history of the Slovakia as a nation is less than two decades old, Slovaks have existed as a unique entity for over 1500 years.

Bratislava, it’s capital city, is an old-style city rich in cultural life and surprisingly free from the commercialism found throughout Western Europe. The city is unusually free from common European congestion. The High Tatras are a magnificent range of mountains dotted with villages with deep peasant traditions. The Slovaks are an extremely helpful, pleasant people prepared to go out of their way to welcome visitors.

The town of Martin, where the CAFÉ has sent 30 computers, was originally the Slovak cultural center in the 19th century. Several cultural institutions were founded there. Most political activities leading to the Slovak national emancipation in the 19th and early 20th centuries were organized in or from Martin. The town lost its importance after Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia in 1918. Today, it is the seat of the Slovak National Library and Slovak Matica.

The school that received the computers opened its doors in 2004 with only 25 students. Today they house 173 children. Jozef Sopoliga, the schools principal, said "Lubos Frolo, 5th grade teacher, reports that he is using a student workbook and an interactive CD program. Each of his students can go on the computer and practice English in a prescribed course of study". "I expect their progress in English will be much faster this year than it was last year", he said.