This year, on September 1st, it is exactly thirty years since the DOFE programme began operating in the Czech Republic. Thirty organisations were involved at the beginning in 1995. The very first school was the Gymnasium Zlín - Lesní čtvrt'. Its then director, Bohuslav Záruba, was brought to the programme by a bit of a coincidence. Today he no longer runs the school, but he still remembers the beginnings of DOFE.
Your daughter actually kind of brought you to the DOFE program, what was it like?
I was sitting in the principal's office during a big break, drinking coffee, and suddenly my phone rings. I pick it up and it says, "This is London, this is Hannah." My daughter Hana was an au pair with Helena Felix (daughter of Lady Louise Abrahams, who brought the programme to the Czech Republic). So I wondered for a moment what that was. But then she handed me over to Helena and she invited me and my colleague to London.
And you went?
Yes. They explained everything to us. And when we went back to the Czech Republic, we were wondering how we were going to explain to everybody what was going on. We didn't have the support of the Ministry of Education at that time, we were a solo enterprise. We were lucky to have perfect students, maybe ten, fifteen at the beginning. They figured out that they could do something in the program that they never imagined they could do. So then more and more students got involved, and as it took off, other schools got involved. because
Bohuslav Záruba at a ceremony in Zlín in February 2025.
And what convinced you to finally want to get involved as a director?
I was convinced by the idea. That everyone can do more than they can ever imagine. I used to teach physics, and I always told my students: You're capable of understanding it, you just can't put up a barrier here and say "I can't do it". You have to rethink it and say "I can do it". And that's actually what I saw in the program.
Do you have a strong experience related to the program that you still remember today?
I certainly remember meeting Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip. When I met him at the British Embassy and he shook my hand, I didn't wash it for a week. (laughs). But actually the most powerful thing was to see the joy of the students when they finished the program. That was invaluable fuel for the work.
We are chatting together at the Zlín ceremony. How do you see now, after thirty years, where the programme has moved?
I've been looking at how many students and leaders are involved. When I asked the cantors to get involved, they were reluctant. So I'm very pleasantly surprised. And I think the program builds a healthy self-esteem in the students.
What would you say today to principals or teachers who are considering whether to join the programme?
I think everyone has to taste it for themselves. I didn't believe it at first either. I didn't think it would have that effect. It took Lady Abrahams to convince me.
