Several of our best collectors from the "Recycle and Win" competition went on a trip organized by the Integration Project. They enjoyed several days in sunny Italy. The highlight, and for many the greatest experience, was a meeting and dinner with the top Slovak footballer playing in Naples - Marek Hamšík.
The children formed a wonderful group and enjoyed the program prepared by the Integration Project leaders. They traveled to Italy by government special flight, which was the first flight for most of them. Initial nervousness before boarding was replaced by joy, and everyone liked the trip. The program was rich, and among other things, the children visited Rome, the Vatican and its gardens, Naples, and spent some time by the sea. The highlight was attending a football match between Napoli and Benevento and the aforementioned dinner with Marek Hamšík. Upon arrival at Bratislava airport, the group was met by TV JOJ reporters, which the children initially found hard to believe.
And this is what the Integration Project manager - Stanka Matvejová wrote about the trip:
"From 13.9. to 19.9.2017, we went with children within the Integration Project to Italy to visit the phenomenal Slovak football representative and great person – Marek Hamšík. The first stop on our journey was the Vatican, where after landing we were warmly welcomed by the Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency Peter Sopko, and then we had the opportunity to tour this magical place, its basilicas, Vatican Gardens, and other beautiful sites. We could not miss visiting the Eternal City – Rome. After touring its beauties, we had a generous reception at the Ambassador of the Italian Republic, His Excellency Ján Šoth. After two days full of enriching information and nice experiences, we moved to Naples, where we stayed in a hotel right on the beach and could enjoy a well-deserved rest by the sea. During the Naples tour, we attracted great interest from locals and media as we walked its streets wearing Marek Hamšík jerseys. We felt like big stars as everyone took photos, filmed, greeted us, and smiled. Marek Hamšík's popularity is truly enormous, and experiencing it firsthand was a huge experience not only for the children but also for us adults.
http://sport.ilmattino.it/sscnapoli/invasione_di_hamsik_citta_turisti_slovacchi_capitano_foto-3244604.html
http://m.calcionapoli24.it/notizie/napoli-turisti-slovacchi-in-giro-per-la-citt-con-le-maglie-di-n323102.html
The situation repeated itself during our arrival at the Sao Paolo stadium, where we certainly did not get lost among approximately 47,000 spectators who came to enjoy the match between SSC Napoli and Benevento Calcio. We all cheered loudly and left the match full of enthusiasm, as we were awaited by a meeting and dinner with our star – Marek Hamšík. As soon as we arrived at the restaurant, all the children’s eyes lit up, and their smiles probably remain to this day after seeing their idol who warmly welcomed them and thanked them for the great support and atmosphere they created not only at the stadium but also in the city. Marek already knows the Integration Project as he participated in our concert in Bratislava in 2015, but according to him, this trip was exceptional, and he posted a photo with our "group" on his Instagram and also became a "follower" of our page. Besides him, other well-known footballers such as Juraj Kucka, Milan Škriniar, and Dries Mertens followed and praised our trip. After a great dinner, it was time for photos and autographs, which the children fully enjoyed. Marek showed himself to be a very kind and humble person and demonstrated his great human qualities. After this unforgettable evening, we used the last moments to relax by the sea. On the day of departure, the military airport in Naples prepared an interesting tour of military helicopters and the airport for us. The exceptional experiences of the entire trip were enhanced by the government special flight provided by the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic for the safe transport of our children to Italy and back home.
Therefore, allow us to thank you also this way for participating in the Integration Project. Thanks to your help, we can turn children's dreams into reality and bring smiles and joy where needed.
THANK YOU!"
From the impressions and thank-you messages of the children, we select only a few excerpts because together they filled up to 8 pages with experiences and reactions :) But for curious readers, we also have a complete version in pdf.
Hello Stanka.
The trip to Italy was great! I enjoyed it, got along well with all the children, and had fun.
Thanks to Slavo, Katka, Ďuro, and Stanka for enabling us such a trip. I liked football and dinner
with Marek Hamšík the most. I also enjoyed the sea and the government special flight. Thanks for the amazing trip.
Marek, Nitra
Hello Stanka, the trip was incredibly good .. all the people who took care of us were super ... I liked the flight the most, as it was exclusively arranged, the beach, and the football match with an incredible atmosphere. Thank you for letting me participate in something like this, hopefully, we will see each other again, have a nice evening
Tomáš, Ružomberok
BIG THANKS:
For unforgettable experiences – these are moments when you were with us. It is a lot of amazing experiences for which I am grateful only to you.
For being part of my life – because I found new friends, each of whom is special in some way.
Thanks to Slavo for daily valuable advice that I will keep in memory.
Damián, Poprad
First of all, I want to thank again everyone who contributed in any way to making this great trip happen. A great group of people gathered, and together we experienced many unforgettable moments, whether it was visiting the Vatican or touring Rome. The greatest experience for me was the football match of SSC Napoli and the dinner with Marek Hamšík. The atmosphere accompanying these events is hard to describe in words. I am glad I could be part of the group of people who were granted this. Thank you again!
Filip Pekarčík, Poprad
