Babushkas, marmelade and other creative community efforts
Thanks to our donors, Via Foundation is able to support hundreds of community projects every year. Although the range of activities in these projects is very diverse, they all have one key element in common: committed citizens who give their time, enthusiasm and hard work to making their communities more vibrant places. Their efforts enhance…
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At the Kalyna Community Center, it doesn’t matter where you come from
“I want to thank all the ladies at the Kalyna Community Center! Since the moment we arrived, you have been there for our children! When they had no one to play with or talk to, the Center was like a breath of fresh air for them. You gave our children the opportunity to feel at home!” This…
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Citizen-led restoration of small monuments
Thanks to the support of our donors, Via is able to help people who are renovating small monuments in their villages and the surrounding landscape. We recently visited a few of these passionate builders with big hearts to learn more about what they are doing and why. Chapel in a wall In a small village…
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How to work miracles? Art meets philanthropy on the Ship of Mysteries
The Forman Brothers’ Theatre has been one of the most original artistic groups in Czech theatre for about as long as Via Foundation has been supporting community initiatives. The two came together, merging the worlds of generosity and innovative art, in a recent Via fundraising event on the Vltava River. The Forman Brothers with their…
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A corner of paradise behind a pilgrimage church
The village of Štípa in Moravia boasts a baroque pilgrimage church. The area behind the church, however, remained unused and untidy for many years – until several local families set about renovating it. According to parish priest František Sedláček, groups of volunteers began to form around the Štípa parish as early as the 1970s. “I…
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Inspirational people and projects in 2022
In 2022, thanks to our generous donors, Via Foundation supported 1,185 projects and initiatives led by active citizens, disbursing more than CZK 80 million ($ 3.6 million). Behind the numbers are the stories of civic associations, NGOs and people across the Czech Republic who are creating community gardens, organizing fundraisers, food festivals and neighborhood meetings,…
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Welcoming Ukraine – One Year Later
The Ukrainian Language and Culture Saturday School in Olomouc originally served mixed Ukrainian-Czech families. Through Saturday classes, the school sought to maintain children’s awareness of their Ukrainian parents’ native language and culture. That all changed after Russia invaded Ukraine. Since last September, the school has been functioning as a meeting place for all Ukrainian families in Olomouc.…