Tales of dofaks and dofačky

When I first got involved with DOFE, I had absolutely no idea where this journey would take me. It all started with completing activities and organising a single charity event, which I wanted to use to bring our school community together. Today, it has become a tradition. It was then that I realised that even a single idea can spark something much bigger. Thanks to DOFE, I’ve had the chance to take part in expeditions abroad, international projects and discussions, and to become part of the DOFE team.

One of the activities I chose was reading. When I set myself the goal in DOFE of broadening my reading horizons and discovering new genres, lots of people would have said: „How boring – you’re just reading.“ But the reality? The thirteen books I’ve read have completely taken me out of my comfort zone. I stopped reading the same old genres all the time and opened myself up to stories and viewpoints that I would previously have given a wide berth. DOFE didn’t just teach me to read more, but above all to look at the world with a more open mind. The expeditions were just as rewarding. Each one was completely different; each one taught me something, and each one reminded me that the greatest growth comes when you step outside your comfort zone.

I got involved with DOFE straight after starting secondary school. The programme taught me not to be afraid to set myself more ambitious goals and to take the first step, even when I’m not entirely sure of the outcome. Thanks to this, I plucked up the courage to get in touch with a charity, start volunteering, and gain experience at a veterinary practice, where I was able to try my hand at working with animals.

Horse riding was also a big part of my journey. I used to see it mainly as a hobby, but DOFE motivated me to train regularly and keep improving. When my coach offered me the chance to take my riding exams, it seemed almost impossible. Nevertheless, I accepted the challenge and today I’m delighted to say: „I’ve done it!“ It was DOFE that showed me that the courage to take that first step often leads to the greatest successes.

DOFE has taught me that big goals don’t happen overnight. At every stage, I set myself slightly more challenging goals. From gymnastics to regular running, from my first tentative attempts at writing lyrics to my own songs in three languages. The biggest change, however, was the patience and perseverance that helped me realise that it’s the small, everyday steps that lead to big results.

What has meant the most to me is my voluntary work as a Scout leader. Working with children has taught me to improvise, to be patient and to pass on values that are important to me personally. One unforgettable moment was the ‘Silver Expedition’, during which I wrote my original song ‘Never Try, Never Know’. A year later, I had the opportunity to sing it to Prince Edward during his visit to Prague. That was the moment that launched my career as a songwriter.

I joined the DOFE programme mainly because I wanted to try something new and push myself. But I never expected the bizarre and unforgettable situations this journey would lead me into. Looking back now, I can see that the biggest change has been in my self-confidence. I’ve learnt to overthink every step less, not to be afraid to take the initiative, and simply to throw myself into new challenges. It’s thanks to my experiences with DOFE that I’ve managed to get into my dream university in the UK, where I’ll continue to develop myself further.

One of the most memorable experiences was the ‘Golden Expedition’. On the way to Denmark, our train split up during the night and we woke up in a small German town where we definitely weren’t meant to be. Keeping our cool and sorting out the situation together was perhaps a greater challenge than the expedition itself. But DOFE showed me that even the most unexpected obstacles can be overcome if you keep a cool head.

I like to push myself and do extra things, so I didn't give up and started DOFE. It was a new challenge. I picked the gold level straight away and after talking to my supervisor, we surprisingly connected a lot of my activities very well with DOFE, gave them direction and also added goals that I would have rather just thought about before.

Overall, what I take away from DOFE is more organization, perseverance in what I do, the fact that you can connect things that I first thought were impossible and a lot of experiences from the expedition. To the new participants I would like to tell them not to be afraid to join DOFE, they have nothing to lose only to gain and also a lot of new unforgettable experiences await them.

I joined DOFE in 2022 as one of the first participants at our school. At the time, I had no idea just how much this experience would shape me. Thanks to the programme, I’ve developed greater discipline, learnt to work better in a team, organise events and speak in front of people. Orienteering has become a big part of my journey. From someone who, just two years ago, couldn’t even run two kilometres, I’ve gradually worked my way up to qualifying for the Czech Republic Championships.

The biggest challenge was the ‘Golden Expedition’ in Mallorca. Five days with a rucksack on my back were demanding enough in themselves, but the moment when we were scaling a steep rock face high above the sea, using only a rope, will stay with me forever. It was then that I realised I could achieve much more than I ever thought possible.