Since 2007, we have been active in Jarovnice, and since 2011 we have had a religious community here, which currently consists of three sisters — Sr. Silvia Zábavová, Sr. Ráchel Chovancová, and Sr. Antónia Rusnáková. We serve in the largest Roma settlement in Slovakia and Central Europe, home to approximately 8,600 inhabitants, of whom around 8,000 are Roma.
Our mission is to accompany people in their spiritual, personal, and everyday lives through pastoral care, social work, and education. We support the dignity of every person, personal responsibility, education, active participation in community life, and mutual cooperation. We strive to bring vision and hope to children, youth, families, and seniors, and to contribute to the development of the local community in Jarovnice.
These activities are carried out alongside our regular employment through the civic association OZ Jarovnice, the Mission Centre as a detached workplace of St. Elizabeth University, and now also through the newly established Mária Ward Kindergarten.
Every day we meet children growing up in poverty and without the stimuli that would prepare them for school. We see that if a child does not receive support at the beginning, they carry this disadvantage throughout their life. That is why we decided to take a step beyond ordinary assistance. Based on our long-term pastoral, educational, and social work, we concluded that early childhood education is the key to future success and breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Our experience shows that preschool education is essential for change. Therefore, we decided to build a kindergarten for 63 children.
The Mária Ward Kindergarten takes into account the social and cultural environment of children from the local community and creates conditions for equal opportunities in education, so that every child can experience acceptance, success, and support in their development. Its goals and focus are set in accordance with legislation, the needs of the local community, Christian values, the educational vision of its founder Mária Ward, cooperation with families, and current challenges in early childhood education. Our aim is not only to teach children basic skills, but to help them grow as individuals – to believe in themselves, make decisions, and find their place in life.
The educational approach inspired by Mária Ward is based on respect for every child, the development of thinking and character, and the support of independence, responsibility, empathy, and service to others. In this kindergarten, children will not only learn, but also experience acceptance, safety, and attention – something many of them lack at home. It will prepare them for entering primary school, help them integrate better into society, and create jobs within the community. For many children, it will be the first place where they experience stability, support, and genuine interest. For many, it will be their first real chance at a better beginning.
The establishment of the kindergarten will bring positive impact to the entire community. In addition to providing quality education, it will create new job opportunities for Roma women and men from Jarovnice, helping reduce unemployment and strengthen the community’s responsibility for its own development.
Thanks to the Recovery and Resilience Plan, we were able to secure funding for the construction of a preschool building. With the help of many donors and sisters from abroad, we were then able to provide nearly all of its interior furnishings.
On August 24, 2026, a dedication ceremony was held for the premises, which were blessed by Archbishop Bernard Bober.
More information about our Kindergarten can be found at: MŠ Jarovnice :: cj sk
