On today’s episode of Slovakia Today, we head to Trenčín to explore how the NGO Punkt is training young leaders to build connected and resilient communities through its Citizen Academy workshops. We speak with participants, American lecturer Bari Hochwald Cagnola, and organizers to understand what motivates these young professionals to commit to intensive training spanning in-person modules and online support, and how the program equips them with skills to revitalize communities.

Later, we stay in Trenčín to meet Canadian photographer Donald Weber, who is helping the city reimagine itself as the 2026 European Capital of Culture while honoring its nearly thousand-year-old heritage. Weber shares insights from his residency and the perspective he brings to capturing Trenčín’s evolving identity.