Child sponsorship update from Doubí, Czech Republic

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Doubí, Czech Republic from Winter 2008.

Two new SOS mothers Lenka and Ilona came to the SOS CV Doubí this year. Lenka have got into her care Patrik and his sister named Martina and Anička. They spent together summer holidays in the cottage. The children joined a group of other children without problems. The girls started to attend a nursery school in Doubí in September and Patrik entered the zero class of primary school. SOS mother Ilona is still waiting for admission of new children.

From February there is also a new educator Tomas, who spent the last February week with all children from Doubi in the ski centre Bublava in the mountain called Krušné hory, which is the opportunity and experience to know each other. They had watched the weather forecast on internet regularly two weeks before their departure. At last it was fine, because there was only one snow-covered ski slope like an island in the middle of grass plot. The children could enjoy both skiing and games and fun in the open airs. They gained points for particular disciplines, their behaviour and cleaning. At the end of this stay enjoyed evening skiing which was wonderful experience for all of them. Before their departure they were awarded for participation in competitions.

In February two young people from the association Red Cross frequented the village and learnt our children basis of first aid treatment, theoretical and practical knowledge of help to injured people. Their endeavour culminated in the competition of young paramedics in Karlovy Vary. Our children gained the 1st degree and advanced to a regional competition to Horšovský Týn. There were a beautiful park near the castle and weather was fine and our young paramedics took the third place, which was the last one unfortunately.

In April the annual run around Rolava for SOS village was held in Karlovy Vary, where participated also some of our children. At the conclusion the village director was given the cheque - financial donation. The last day in April the village organised “Witches burning”, which is Czech tradition, where SOS families roasted sausages and sang songs at the camp fire. There was prepared a programme with various competitions in singing or dancing and at the conclusion of this evening the children were awarded with sweets. This action stood well also due to beautiful sunny weather.

At the beginning of May two groups of children from Hong-Kong visited our village. Pupils of primary schools were on a trip and a part of their programme was helping to some non-profit association working with children. They together with our children cleaned the village playground and raked grass in the garden. Besides work there was a time for meeting and playing common games, where was no need to solve language barrier among children.

Events at Doubí, Czech Republic

At the end of June the last group of personality development with a pedagogue took place in the village. This group of 13 children between the ages of 5 and 12 met for the last time. There is a plan to divide them into the groups according to their generation from new school year.

In July the children went to summer camps mostly. At the beginning of August the village team arranged a typical tent camp in cooperation with Pioneer organisation from Chomutov, where our children were spending beautiful moments together with children from Pioneer for two weeks. The main topic was a conquering of Fort Boyard there. Within the frame of this theme the children had to fulfil different tasks and so they learnt plenty of new skills. The leaders were very sensible on children and the programme was prepared very well.

In September our children together with their SOS mothers took part in the music festival La-Sophia in Dolní Beřkovice near Mělník. This festival was held for the support of the project of foundation of a music school for talented children from socially deprived families, where famous Czech artists performed including Yveta Blanarovičová, actress, who is a guarantee of this project. Next significant action in September was the Decathlon organised by Samsung Company. The aim of this action was support and promotion the SOS village in Czech Republic. Schoolmates of our children from primary schools were invited here, too. Finally there were about 500 children from Karlovy Vary and outskirts. Also Šárka Kašpárková, our successful Czech athlete, came to support this action.

At the beginning of October planned groups of personality development started to work, which are divided according to a particular age. There are themes for each group, where are discussed for example self-control, communication, assertivity in accordance with their degree of maturity. The first week of October a weekend action took place in the mountain resort in Boží Dar. There were hiking with variety of competitions on the programme, where the children fulfilled tasks in different disciplines. The weather was marvellous all weekend and so they could be still outside. They also played a night game and a night visit of cemetery was for the bold ones.

In November a new candidates for SOS mother came to the village and started to visit SOS families. At the end of November a weekend action is planned in Nejdek in the boarding house Kukačka. The children are looking forward to Christmas and pre-Christmas actions in December – the celebration of Nicholas Day, the performance of children on Christmas Markets in Prague, the action of Radio Dragon for children from children’s home and Christmas party.