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Naše programy

Preserving town character

Our Living Communities program includes a “Fast Grants” section, where people can apply for quick funding to address urgent community issues. Groups of neighbors and associations are engaging in discussions about the future of their communities in various parts of the Czech Republic, as the cases below show. Some are saving places from demolition just in the nick of time, while others are influencing longer-term community development through land use planning processes.Read More

Towns in bloom: Living Communities projects preserving vegetation and revitalizing parks

Before long, spring will turn into summer and we’ll be thankful to find shade under mature trees. Even now, some of our grantees are enhancing their communities with plantings. Preservation of urban vegetation and revitalization of parks as community places are two key themes in the new Living Communities projects, recently supported through the generosity of our donors.

Giving help quickly where it’s needed most

When the Czech government imposed a protective face mask regulation in March, community groups across the country jumped into action and began sewing for the needy with lightening speed. We adapted our support just as quickly, opening a one-off grant call in collaboration with Česká spořitelna bank to enable the sewing teams to recoup some of their costs. We supported 24 projects and awarded a total of $8,000 (CZK 204,000).

15 teams of young philanthropists raised over CZK 900,000 (almost $40,000) to help others

In 2019 more than 270 children and young people gave their time and energy to help others through our Young Philanthropists program. 15 teams of young philanthropists and their patrons held 55 charity events, whose proceeds went to help disabled classmates, senior citizens, mothers in crisis as well as elephants and turtles. Altogether they raised CZK 537,326 ($23,627), which Via Foundation matched to make a total of CZK 906,288 ($39,860). Read More

Even 30 years after the Velvet Revolution, civic engagement in the Czech Republic remains low – but Via is working to change that

On Sunday, November 17, 2019 the Czech Republic celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which marked the fall of the Communist regime and the beginning of the country’s transition to democracy in 1989. Civic engagement is an integral part of modern democracy. This November’s 30th anniversary is a good opportunity to pause and consider two questions: How civically engaged are Czechs 30 years after the establishment of their democracy, and how does Via Foundation support people in becoming more engaged?

A concrete wall gets a makeover and a historic town center wraps up in a new sweater

Thanks to the Living Communities program and citizens’ original ideas, places you would otherwise overlook can turn into artistic works that delight the eyes and hearts of many. Take a look at how people are creating a colorful mosaic on a concrete wall, knitting sweaters for their town and turning old buildings into community spaces – all through Living Communities.Read More

Inspiration from Poland: How to teach leaders to work together

Over the past two years, in our ViabilityNet 3.0 program, we have regularly met with staff from organizations that are similar to Via but operate in other CEE countries. The purpose of these meetings is to exchange experience and learn more about the contexts in which the participating organizations work. In June 2019, Via’s Executive Director Zdeněk Mihalco took a two-day trip to visit the Polish organization Szkola liderow.

Naše programy

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