Prague, 27 November - A total of fourteen principals and teachers involved in DOFE received the Lady Louise Abrahams Award on Wednesday 26 November. The award recognises outstanding individuals who support the development of the DOFE programme in schools, organisations and communities. A total of 7 DOFE leaders, 6 DOFE centre directors and 1 DOFEall personality received the award. Medallions of all the award winners can be found at here.
„One of the basic principles of the DOFE programme is that it is voluntary - and this applies to everyone involved. Leaders and mentors are volunteer guides for young people and see relationships, mutual inspiration and shared growth as their reward. Equally important is the support of headmasters and headmistresses, who see DOFE as a partner in developing a school culture focused on values and competences,” says Gabriela Drastichová, Director of DOFE in the Czech Republic.
The award is named after the woman who brought the programme to the Czech Republic after 1989. Lady Luisa Abrahams was a successful Czechoslovakian golfer who came to Great Britain before World War II. After 1989 she played a major role in bringing DOFE to the Czech Republic. She brought the programme to us and personally supported its beginnings.
The dofacs and dofacs nominated themselves for the leadership award. The directors were nominated directly by the program managers. One of the awardees is Tereza Holečková, head of DOFE Online. She went through the program herself and now helps other participants as a mentor. „I joined the DOFE programme as a high school student and passed the bronze, silver and gold levels. I like the idea of it, so I decided to become a DOFE Online leader as well. I believe that we all still have room to move forward,” she adds.
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DOFE) is a global non-formal education programme for young people aged 13-24. Participants engage in skills development, sport, volunteering and complete an adventure expedition. The programme has been running in the Czech Republic for 30 years and involves schools, non-profit organisations, children's homes, youth homes and sports clubs.
The complete list of winners of the Lady Louise Abrahams Prize 2025
Category.
Petra Bruková - Gymnasium Třinec
Martina Filipová - Secondary School Strážnice
Vladěna Floriánová - Gymnasium Dr. Josef Pekar, Mladá Boleslav
Tereza Holečková - DOFE Online
Hana Plíhalová Šafaříková - College of Education and Secondary School of Education Litomyšl
Pavla Šintalová - Gymnasium Benešov
Milada Vašáková - Secondary School of Informatics, Electrical Engineering and Crafts Rožnov pod Radhoštěm
Category.
Josef Dvořák - Gymnasium Polička
Petra Fialová - Secondary School Strážnice
Filip Horák - Bolevec Elementary School Pilsen
Jaroslav Pleva - Elementary school Vrchlabí
Marcela Řeháková - Gymnasium Teplice
Pavel Zubek - Secondary school of teleinformatics, Ostrava
Category.
Karel Kanděra - Primary School Practical Třeboň
