The strong are supposed to help their surroundings and that’s why Trnava-based HKS Forge selects an interesting project with determined backers to support financially every year. This year, the forge recognised the determination of teachers from one of Trnava's kindergartens, who wanted to build a traffic playground in their schoolyard.

Places for children to learn the rules of road from a very young age were once fixtures in every large city in Slovakia. Unfortunately, the once well-known playground in Trnava shared the fate of many in other cities and had long since disappeared. The kindergarten on Hodžova ulica decided to join forces and find funding to build their own small traffic playground. HKS Forge took notice of this determination. “We want to support social issues every year in Trnava and this project was really attractive to us. The Hodžova Kindergarten project seemed meaningful,” explained Ivana Chytilová from HKS Forge. The Forge’s Director, Radovan Pobočík, delivered cars, four-wheelers, carts, reflectors and protective helmets to the kindergarten. These gifts were accompanied by tremendous applause, but the smiles of the future drivers were the most satisfying. The director received a colourful picture from the children that now hangs in his office. It features cars as a symbol, which goes for the forge itself as it counts large automakers among its key customers.

HKS Forge is first
While the appearance of the future playground was clear to the kindergarten, they needed around €6,000 to bring the project to completion. They toiled with fund-raising efforts on their own, but, as headmistress Soňa Planková explains, there was no way to finish the project without support from the business sector. “Trnava-based HKS Forge was the first sponsor to support this concept. I think the reaction of the kids made it clear just how thankful we are,” said Ms Planková.

comments on the photographs:

247 – Radovan Pobočík and the picture now hanging in his office.

255 – As thanks, the children sang a song about transport and the kindergarten's anthem.