For those who want to build communities - not a startup, not a career. Something that will still exist in ten years, because it lives in people.
We believe in the world where people like you - whatever your starting point - can become trusted community builders and community transformers with the skills, support, and structure to create and lead with their own communities.
9 days of intensive learning, hard work, real-world case studies, supportive exercises, and plenty of fun.
People like you. At Susterum, we support the drivers of connection - the ones we call Community Builders and Community Transformers. You might not have a name or a formal title for it yet, but you are usually the one:
...who notices when someone feels left out - and does something about it.
...who naturally starts organising things, holds the group together, and makes a casual gathering into something people actually come back to.
...who reflects after every event: what worked, and what would you do differently next time.
...who built momentum without someone clearing the way first - without a financial cushion, a stable family behind them, or a straightforward path - and kept going anyway.
...who wants to build something that will last - not a startup, not a career. Something that lives in people, not in a business model.
This is what community building is. And Susterum is built for you.
You want to create a community where there isn't one yet. You start from zero - from a cause, a place, or a group of people who deserve better connection.
You want to transform a group that already exists - into something more purposeful, more resilient, and more alive.
Age 19–25, having completed secondary education. The lower limit follows the end of secondary school in your country – for example the Czech maturita, the Romanian bacalaureat, or the Serbian matura. In most countries this means around age 19. The same applies elsewhere: if you’ve finished the equivalent of upper secondary school and are up to 25, you’re in the right place.
No CV, no portfolio, no volunteering credentials. Some who apply are already organising, volunteering, or holding a group together informally – others are starting from nothing but an idea. Either way, you need a reason to build and the willingness to do the work.
Susterum was built especially for those who didn’t get an easy starting line – growing up without financial security, a stable family, or a straightforward path. That’s not a requirement, just who this was designed for. Some places are free, some involve a financial contribution – it depends on your situation, and we’ll figure it out together when you apply.
Everything you need to turn your vision into a real, lasting community. We back you up with three interconnected pillars:
Your Network. You are not building in isolation.
Your Tools. Tech and templates built for community builders.
Your Structure. A guided path from raw idea to real-world impact.
A structured journey from vision to impact.
Apply for the next cohort
Cohort selection and team formation
Platform onboarding and introductory activities
8-day intensive in-person program from October 1 (Thursday) to October 9 (Friday), 2026 in the inspiring setting of an organic farm
Ongoing support and community meetings - 6× during the period
Final project presentations and welcome to the Alumni community - all as part of the SUSTERUM Conference
Susterum doesn't run on funding alone - it runs on people like you. Bring your time, expertise, or network and help young community builders from socioeconomical disadvantages turn their ideas into real communities with lasting impact.
Support and guide a builder, not just a career.
In Susterum, a Sustainer is a supporter and guide. Derived from the Latin sustinere (to hold up from below), a Sustainer holds the space underneath a team of young builders, providing steady, present, and trustworthy support so they can stand on their own-holding the space, not the steering wheel.
"You won't just advise. You'll hold the space for someone to build something real."
One session. Real impact.
Not available for a full year? Join as a guest expert or workshop lead in a field that shapes future communities - marketing, finance, law, HR, AI, facilitation.
"Your knowledge fills a gap no textbook covers."
Community Lab Partner
Have a real problem your organisation or community is facing? Bring it to the intensive programme as a live brief. Participants work on it - you get fresh, unfiltered perspective from the outside.
"The best briefs we've seen came from people who stopped pretending they had the answer."
Susterum builds the infrastructure that's missing - a structured programme, sustainer support system, and platform that keeps communities alive long after the intensive programme ends. Your support makes it possible. In return, you gain access to talent, visibility, and a partnership that goes well beyond a logo on a banner.
Fund a cohort. Shape its future.
As a Programme Sponsor, you fund an entire cohort - intensive retreat, sustainer programme, and platform. In return:
Ideal for companies with an active ESG/CSR agenda and interest in talent from non-traditional candidate pools.
Meet candidates you wouldn't find anywhere else.
Susterum deliberately targets talent from socioeconomical disadvantages - people with resilience, authenticity, and the ability to build and mobilise communities. Graduates are pre-screened on values, community skills, and hands-on experience.
Ideal for HR teams looking for community managers, programme managers, CSR coordinators, or non-standard talent.
One-off / Recurring / Gift Agreement
Directly fund scholarships, residencies, and sustainer program operations. You can contribute immediately, set up stable long-term support, or formally request a gift agreement for tax purposes.
Ideal for individual donors, companies, or foundations seeking clear options to support our work directly with transparent reporting.
Donate & Support Us →"Organisations increasingly need people who build and sustain communities - not just run events. The talent gap is real. Susterum fills it." Matěj Keka, Founder
The first gathering of communities turning vision into action.
Students and NGO workers – individual discounts available, feel free to contact us.
Contact us about our partnership packages that bundle conference tickets with annual SUSTERUM community membership, exclusive PLATFORM access, and dedicated consulting SERVICES for your community initiatives.
"After years of building international communities, I want to share what matters most - the knowledge and stories of inspiring people I've met whose work has real impact."
Matěj Keka, Founder SUSTERUM
Susterum builds the missing developmental infrastructure for people like you (19-25) to design, build, and sustain real-world communities that create measurable local impact. We do this through a structured intensive programme and an invite & alumni-only membership platform combining a community design framework with sustainer matching and accountability-so ideas don’t stay ideas.
Your collaborative ecosystem for sustainable impact, built on three interconnected pillars: People, Platform, and Accelerator. SUSTERUM brings together people who hold communities together through our unique digital platform, The Accelerator cohort programs, workshops, networking events, and our flagship annual conference-creating a year-round community where program participants, supporters, and partners alike find their place in supporting your sustainable impact journey.
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Connect with cohort members, alumni, sustainers, and partners across the entire SUSTERUM ecosystem - find co-founders and collaborators beyond your batch
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Access shared wiki, collaborative chats, resource library with templates, guides, and collective wisdom from the community
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Complete backoffice suite including marketing, finance, legal resources, AI-powered tools, and curated partner services
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Find team members, co-founders, and sustainers through our comprehensive database of alumni and experts within the network
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Your companion throughout the accelerator and beyond - from onboarding to alumni status, ensuring continuous growth
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Learn from, collaborate with, and access exclusive opportunities with past and future SUSTERUM participants and partners
Matěj Keka is an innovative leader and community builder with a combination of experience in corporate marketing, non-profit program development, fundraising and international partnerships. As the founder of the Speechless Reconciliation program, where he led an international team for more than 4 years and built a partner network in 14 countries; at the same time, he managed to raise €150k+ for this program and build an alumni community of more than 120 people. In addition, he works as Head of Fundraising at the Czech Woodcraft League, where he is developing a fundraising strategy of the organization and raised €100k+ in the first 2 years. He speaks Czech, English, Spanish and Serbian and his motto is “If you want to change the world, change it at least for better.”
Petr Zajíček is a strategic leader bridging the worlds of HR and artificial intelligence while building sustainable community initiatives. As co-founder of SUSTERUM, he focuses on system architecture and strategic development. He specializes in AI adoption in HR and preparing companies for the future Human-AI workforce. With a background in HR consulting focused on personal development and career growth, he combines his AI expertise to enhance organizational performance. He actively supports young people as a guide and Sustainer - from startup teams in the Soutěž a podnikej competition (where one of the teams he supported won) to supporting young adults leaving foster care through the PATRON community. He holds a specialization in AI and believes in the power of intergenerational collaboration.
Hlib Melnychuk is an operations and fundraising professional with experience building and scaling initiatives across the non-profit and civic sectors in Central and Eastern Europe. His background spans institutional fundraising, grant management, cross-border project coordination, and community building - including work in the energy and security sectors. He has a track record of securing funding from international partners, growing engaged communities from the ground up, and developing the internal systems that keep organisations running effectively. He combines a strategic approach to fundraising with a hands-on operational mindset, from building team structures and financial workflows to managing partnerships across multiple countries. At Susterum, he focuses on fundraising development and operational support.
