During the last week of June, William Smith, a student of theology and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, visited our university. In addition to meeting with the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters of our university, Samuel Štefan Mahút, he had the opportunity to see the premises of the university, the university library, and visit Vlkolínec.

William came to Slovakia through a service-learning program launched last year by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies from the University of Notre Dame. The institute sends students from this American university to Europe to participate in volunteer work for various charitable and non-governmental organizations that help marginalized groups, migrants, people from the periphery of society. During the second year of this project, the Nanovic Institute sent the first Notre Dame student to Slovakia. Thanks to cooperation with our university in Ružomberok and the help of vice-rector Markéta Rusnáková, it was possible to find the JEKH DROM organization in Važec, where William is carrying out his internship during June and July 2023. This organization helps people living in an unfavorable social situation, especially the Roma population. During his stay, William is involved in the organization's activities. He helps with organizational projects, event planning, and office tasks as well as spends time with Roma children who attend the association's day center. We wish him the best in his work, and we are glad that the contacts with the Nanovic Institute are bearing such fruitful results.