On Wednesday 17 June, one of the most extraordinary bronze award ceremonies we have witnessed this year took place in Třeboň. And it wasn’t the only event to take place at Třeboň’s Practical Primary School in mid-June. That morning, the school also welcomed our patron and recipient of a state honour, Lucie Hyblerová.
She came to present the ‘Story of a Medal’ project to the pupils. And it was right there, from the President himself, that the children were able to see it for themselves.
The pupils talked with Lucie about how each of us can decide what sort of person we want to be, how wonderful it is to have dreams and to pursue them, and how a good deed doesn’t have to be anything grand. Sometimes it’s enough just to stop and ask someone: „How are you today?“ Lucie also encouraged the young people to believe in themselves, not to be afraid to pursue their goals, and not to forget to help others in the process.
„The special school in Třeboň has taught me something new. A belief in the hope that school can be a second „home“ for children with disabilities… I certainly took away more than I brought with me. I think this was my 26th talk at a special school over the last year and a half, and with your permission, I’d like to borrow the words of Lucky, a special needs teacher here who is also behind the „Dofák“ journey of the local children: “I only perform small miracles.’ Long may the little miracles of Třeboň continue, because we all need them, in every region, not just in South Bohemia. Thank you to the people of Třeboň for placing their trust in me, and I hope and believe that the children took something away from the talk.”
The discussion was followed by the bronze medal ceremony that afternoon.
Barča, Monika and Dominik from the Třeboň Practical Primary School received their bronze certificates and badges. They were joined by Anežka, the very first DOFE participant with Down’s syndrome to complete the programme. She completed the programme as part of DOFE Online with the support of her supervisor, Magdalena Studená.
The journey of the children from Třeboň beautifully illustrates that DOFE can take many forms and is simply for everyone. The award-winning DOFE participants regularly helped the elderly, children and their classmates; they took part in sport; developed their skills in cooking and drawing; and together they also successfully completed an adventurous expedition in the great outdoors.
It was the expedition that provided one extraordinary moment. As a participant in DOFE Online, Anežka joined the expedition organised by the school in Třeboň. She set off into unfamiliar surroundings amongst people she had never met before. Within a few days, however, her fellow participants, who had been strangers, became friends, and together they rose to the challenge right to the end.
A big thank you goes to Lucie Šimánková, headteacher at the Practical Primary School, and to everyone who helps create a space where every young person can grow and gain self-confidence, regardless of the challenges they face in life. We’re delighted that #DOFE is simply for everyone.
And a big thank you also goes to Lucie Hyblerová and the Abakus Endowment Fund for their support.
