Foundations
The Czech Radio Foundation works to create an environment that enables individuals to fully develop their potential and abilities, regardless of any disabilities or disadvantages they may face.
The Czech Radio Foundation was launched in 2000 to support people facing various forms of disadvantage, be they health or social, and at the same time to respond to unforeseen humanitarian crises, or the impacts of natural disasters, that require immediate financial support. Czech Radio thus contributes significantly to the culture of social responsibility.
The first ever project of the Czech Radio Foundation was Světluška (Firefly), which was launched in 2003. Still running today, it provides support to the blind and visually impaired. Another ongoing project is Ježíškova vnoučata (Santa’s Grandchildren), which fulfils seniors’ Christmas wishes.
Since 2013, the Czech Radio Foundation has also organised one-off public fundraising collections, particularly to provide financial assistance during humanitarian crises in the Czech Republic and abroad. For example, the foundation supported households impacted by a tornado in southern Moravia in 2021 and provided aid to areas hit by an earthquake in Nepal in 2015.
Světluška
The Firefly project (Světluška) has been running since 2003 and provides support to children and adults who are blind or otherwise visually impaired. The Czech Radio Foundation is not only the founder but also a partner in the project, and the author/co-author of a number of activities. Every year, Firefly succeeds in raising and distributing aid amounting to tens of millions of Czech crowns.
How does Firefly provide aid?
Firefly provides help to people who are blind or partially sighted in two ways.
One is direct help to such individuals, including assistance services, learning aids, legal consultation and leisure and sports activities. It seeks to provide the visually impaired with meaningful sporting and cultural experiences.
The other form is through support of various non-profits that provide assistance services, respite care, counselling and special schools for people with low vision or blindness, as well as to employers who provide them with work.
How can donors contribute?
In addition to traditional channels, Firefly organises community events for its supporters.
Every year, a charity concert called Light for Firefly is held, during which the organisation expresses its gratitude to donors and encourages them to contribute via SMS donations.
Another way to support Firefly is by visiting its Café in the Dark, where, as the name suggests, it is completely dark; visitors experience this environment first-hand while being served by blind staff. The café is mobile and travels to cities across the Czech Republic.
Firefly also organises educational and entertainment activities for all donors. For example, sports enthusiasts can get involved by taking part in charity runs, which are held across the country – always after dark.
Ježíškova vnoučata
Santa's Grandchildren (Ježíškova vnoučata) has been collecting the Christmas wishes of isolated seniors, and helping to make them come true, since 2017. To date, many tens of thousands of wishes have been fulfilled.
The principle is as follows: employees and caregivers from various organisations play a key role in collecting wishes from individuals aged 55 and over. These wishes are then entered into a database. Donors, referred to as Santa's grandchildren, select wishes that match their own capacities and fulfil them. Wishes can be both material and non-material in nature, ranging from clothing and gifts for pets to experiences such as skydiving or meetings with well-known figures.