The Scientology Volunteer Ministers European Cavalcade is in Košice, the Slovak Republic's second-largest city.

The grand opening last month featured entertainment by Marin Krausz, winner of the Slovakian counterpart of "American Idol," and a speech by the Mayor welcoming the Tour to the city.

As with other cities in Slovakia, the country known as "the Heart of Europe," the people of Košiceare vitally concerned with improving the quality of education and economic standards. Nearly 20 years after the iron curtain fell, Slovakia is still hard pressed to catch up with the rest of Europe economically and educationally.

The Volunteer Ministers are offering programs to help people learn the basics of organization, improve their study skills and overcome stress in the workplace to address these issues. But the courses and seminars they deliver also include many other important skills, such as improving communication, overcoming relationship problems and resolving conflicts, all taken from chapters of the Scientology Handbook, which is based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard.

Like the other Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours such as those in Russia, East Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and Latin America, the Eastern European Tour has the purpose of bringing one-on-one help and training to the people of the region, and establishing Volunteer Ministers groups that can carry on their work after the Tour moves on.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program also provides free online training through its web site at www.volunteerministers.org,, for anyone living too far away from a Scientology church, mission or traveling ministry.

Author's Bio: 

Ms. Wieland is an editor of the Scientology Press Office web site.