Marek Janiga ’22, a law student and elected student senator at Comenius University in Bratislava, a FLEX alumnus, and a previous FLEX Alumni Coordinator, exemplifies what it means to be a leader in one’s community.
Since returning to Slovakia from his FLEX program in the U.S. in 2022, Marek has advocated for human rights and the rule of law, showcasing the power of people-to-people exchange to strengthen shared democratic values. After organizing a piano benefit concert for Ukraine war relief in his U.S. host community of Sterling Heights, Michigan, Marek has continued and expanded this initiative at home in Slovakia as the founder and director of the NGO United for Help, which focuses on providing humanitarian and development aid to conflict-affected regions.
Working under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy in Ukraine, his first and most extensive project, United for Ukraine, has united a network of ten NGOs from Slovakia and Ukraine and raised thousands of euros to support the people of Ukraine. While Marek raises awareness on war crimes and human rights abuses and volunteers on the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine, he also often delivers the aid himself. His second project, United for Iraq, took place in Iraqi Kurdistan in the summer of 2023. Together with the Shingala Azad organization and Caritas Slovakia, Marek organized English summer camps for youth from the local towns and the Ethno-religious minority group of Yazidis. Marek’s third project, United for Armenia, focused on fundraising efforts to provide humanitarian aid to ethnic-Armenian refugees.
As the FLEX Program Alumni Coordinator for Slovakia from 2022-2024, Marek has worked to merge the FLEX community with alumni of Camp Courage, a U.S. Embassy-sponsored program that American Councils’ office in Slovakia implements for teenagers interested in democracy, transatlantic security, and leadership. His alumni programming is innovative by engaging audiences of different ages and communities united by their common affiliation with American Councils and the belief that international exchange and community service make our world a better place.
Learn more about the 50 Alumni for 50 Years initiative at https://lnkd.in/eJeNf32H
Featured Alumnus:
Marek Janiga ’22 (Velicna, Slovakia, placed by AFS in Sterling Heights, MI)
