The Vodafone Foundation distributes CZK 1.8 million to youth projects in the Czech Republic

A non-competitive exhibition of contemporary student and youth theater, looking for treasure with the help of GPS, a benefit festival for the handicapped and 18 other projects won the Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation’s third annual Vpohybu (on the move) grant program and were awarded a total of CZK 1 823 193. The majority of the projects were from young people under 26.

“With the Vpohybu grant program, we want to support an active attitude toward life from young people and their attempts to contribute to community development,” says Robert Basch, Director of the Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation, and adds: “Currently we’re announcing the results of the third annual Vpohybu program, under which we have supported a total of 158 projects across the Czech Republic with a total of CZK 16.3 million."

The Vpohybu program focuses on supporting the individual initiatives of young people and their communities. The goal of the program is to develop the responsibility and skills of young people, which are important to their future lives and employment. The program is directed toward nonprofit organizations and youth under 30.

Among the most interesting projects in this round were:

Vyšehrátky 2009 (CZK 268 000, Prague)

• The VyšeHrátky 2009 project is a free time program with an educational component that deals with links to Czech history. Czech legends, myths, and historical events are dealt with through interactive attractions, workshops, theater performances and pageants. The multi-genre program was created by students and graduates of higher art schools. The main emphasis is on active audience participation and fantasy development. This year, the project is broadened to include activities focusing on teenagers and will take place partially out of Prague at partner theater festivals.
• The project is realized by Studio Damúza

Brno variations in Czech sign language (CZK 210 000, Brno)

• The goal of the project implemented by the deaf is to create a DVD with a record of Brno variations in Czech sign language. The material will serve students of sign language, interpreters and the hearing parents of deaf children, as well as research for different sign variations in Czech sign language in the Czech Republic.
• The project is realized by Trojrozměr – the Brno Center for Czech Sign Language.

Geokačer 2009 (CZK 72 250, Olomouc Region)

• Already in its second year, this project supports the interest of young people in geo-information science through the entertaining Geocaching game – looking for treasure using navigational instruments. Middle school students from Olomouc will discover geography and cartography with the help of other games and contests. The entire project is organized under the vocational consultancy of the department of Geo-informatics at Palacky University in Olomouc.
• The project is prepared by the Be Geo civic association

Nature trail Smolotely (CZK 44 078, Smolotely, Czech midlands)

• The goal of the six-member group of students from the private Nature high school is to create a nature trail around the village that will help the locals to know the area in which they live better, visitors can be shown interesting places around Smolotel and tourist enjoyment of the locality will increase.
• It’s organized by a group of young people with Jan Chaloupek in charge.

The Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation received a total of 119 applications for financial support in this Vpohybu grant round, from which the Board of Trustees chose 21 projects in ten regions in the Czech Republic: South Bohemia (CZK 125 660), South Moravia (CZK 460 000), Moravia-Silesia (CZK 101 365), Olomouc (CZK 72 250), Pardubice (CZK 140 800), Plzeň (CZK 180 000), Czech Midlands (CZK 98 578), Ústí (CZK 116 190), Zlín (CZK 163 350) and Prague (CZK 365 000)