It all started during the critical times of the pandemic. While the world came to a halt, work was underway in the Good Shepherd community in Kláštor pod Znievom to complete the House of St. Margaret. However, basic equipment was missing – beds for people in need. At that time, the company TRIPAL decided to act without unnecessary bureaucracy.
“It was completely spontaneous. During COVID, we felt that if we could help with something concrete, there was no need to overthink it,” recalls the company owner Pavol Palko. Engineers from Tripal designed and manufactured special beds for field hospitals that were lightweight and storable.
Ján Košturiak, who develops education and business models in the Good Shepherd association, remembers that moment as a small miracle. Just as they were finishing the rooms, his phone rang with Zdenko Fabičovič from Tripal on the line, with a simple message: “A truck with ten beds is already on its way.”
From Beds to Saving History
However, the cooperation did not end with the delivery of beds. Pavol Palko came up with another unexpected offer – he donated a historic wooden house to the association. This more than a century-old building underwent a unique process: the boys from Good Shepherd disassembled it, transported it, and reassembled it in Kláštor pod Znievom. Today, it serves as dignified housing and a symbol of sustainability.
For Pavol Palko, it was not essential to solve who exactly would live in it. The meaning of the entire action and the preservation of tradition were decisive. Ján Košturiak adds that this year they plan to move a second wooden house, which TRIPAL helped them secure. These projects are not just a financial saving for the association but primarily a source of meaningful work for their clients, which is a key pillar of their return to life.
Business with a Broader Dimension
TRIPAL is not the only company within the INOVATO network that lends a helping hand to Good Shepherd. The association today cooperates with dozens of partners, from technological giants to local manufacturers. They are united by one thing – the conviction that a successful company should have another goal than just pure economic performance.
“Since the company’s inception, we have strived to help where needed, whether financially, in culture, or children in Svetielko. We do not perceive it as something exceptional, but as a natural part of doing business,” explains Pavol Palko.
The vision of both partners today goes even further. A joint production project is being prepared, where men from Good Shepherd would be trained directly at TRIPAL’s premises. The goal is for them to produce value-added products within their social enterprise and thus acquire skills that will open doors to the future.
A Message for Others
Based on his experience with partners like TRIPAL, Ján Košturiak has one message for other entrepreneurs: there’s no need to wait for the perfect project. “Just visit us, and we’ll figure something out together. Sometimes work helps, other times material or tools that the company no longer needs. In work, our clients find lost motivation and a source of income to pay off debts.”
The story of Tripal and Good Shepherd shows that the most powerful innovations are not always about technology, but about the ability to connect technical know-how with pure humanity.
