On 21 November 2025, the Slovak Pilot Leader PEDAL Consulting held the second INSPIRE warm-up event in Slovakia at the Municipal Library for Youth – Nezábudka in Košice, during the meeting of the inclusive reading club titled “Knihovinky”. The event gathered young people with disabilities, their families, assistants, community members, and local stakeholders committed to improving the inclusion and quality of life of groups in vulnerable situations in the Košice region.

The session provided an opportunity to present the INSPIRE, its objectives, and the planned Smart Village Lab to a community directly affected by the challenges the project aims to address, reaching families, young people, and broader community actors in Eastern Slovakia. Our involvement in this community-oriented event consisted of an introductory presentation followed by an open and interactive discussion with around 20 participants – both in person and online.

The literary part of the programme featured Slovak writer and former journalist Michaela Ella Hajduková, who shared her stories and inspirations. The discussion on inclusion was led by INSPIRE expert Radoslav Delina, who introduced the project’s vision and the emerging Smart Village Lab in Košice, highlighting how the Lab aims to support skill development, creativity, community connections, and employment pathways for young people with disabilities.

By embedding the warm-up event into Knihovinky – an inclusive cultural and community platform – the INSPIRE team was able to reach participants in a familiar and safe environment, enabling genuine discussion and first-hand insights into their needs, barriers, and expectations.

The open discussion revealed concrete needs across access to services, community spaces, communication with institutions, readiness for employment, and inclusive education. This exchange highlighted ways the Smart Village Lab could support vulnerable groups through improved service referral, digital inclusion, peer learning, skill-building activities, and collaboration with employers willing to offer inclusive job opportunities.

The discussion also brought forward important themes such as the need for better communication with public institutions, support for families, accessible community spaces, cooperation with schools and companies, and early preparation of young people for the labour market.

The event revealed community’s willingness to collaborate and actively participate in the development of the Smart Village Lab. The insights gathered will directly inform upcoming activities and the practical set-up of the Košice Smart Village Lab in 2026. Throughout the event, INSPIRE promotional materials were available at the venue.