“Rugby taught me that hard work pays off. It’s the same in local politics,” says Matyáš Fořt
Matyáš Fořt is only 20 years old, but he is by hardly a newcomer to public life in his hometown of Říčany. “I believe that young people not only have the right, but also the duty, to get involved in public affairs,” says Matyáš, who studies political science and public policy at the Faculty of…
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“We’ll offer newly elected mayors a ‘smorgasbord’ of support,” says Ludmila Zájedová, program manager of “Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics”
Since its inception, Via Foundation’s program “Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics” has provided knowledge, peer connections and mentoring to people who are preparing to run for local office. This year, in relation to the upcoming municipal elections in October, the program is pursuing a different strategy. Instead of preparing candidates, it will focus on…
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A new community sauna in Tábor connects people to nature
The Janíček Community Garden is located in the Tismenice Valley, just a ten-minute walk from the center of the town of Tábor in South Bohemia. It has provided locals with a space for gardening and relaxation for the past 8 years. Now, thanks to a grant from Via’s Kaufland Community Garden program and the hard…
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The community as a life vest
At Via Foundation, we believe in the power of active people. They are the ones who, in times of crisis, don’t hesitate: they get up from their chairs and go help. Just as they did in the fall of 2024, when heavy rains caused flooding in the Jeseníky and Rychlebské Mountains. The author of this…
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Restoring old movie cinemas boosts community life
Movies shown under a night sky or in old movie cinemas can help revitalize community life. Today we share how residents in three Czech communities are restoring local movie cinemas. In Karlovy Vary, a group of movie lovers is trying to save a historic amphitheater where world-famous actors like Mel Gibson and Uma Thurman have…
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Via’s Stronger Changemakers:“I’ve finally stopped feeling as though everything hinges on me.”
At first glance, they have a lot in common. They are active go-getters who are able to make things happen around them. When you chat with them, you realize they’re grappling with the same doubts as most people dedicated to making a difference in their communities: uncertainty, fatigue, fears of failure, and the question of…
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Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics
Pavel Rek has been mayor of Ratenice, a town in Central Bohemia, for over three years. It wasn’t political ambition that brought him to town hall. He has been an active resident in his town for many years through his charitable and educational association, which has received support from Via Foundation. Because of his community…