The Beacon award for coordinators of volunteer activities in the Plzeň region was awarded on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at TOTEM in Pilsen. They were taken over personally or on behalf of dozens of “good souls” who have dedicated or are devoting their time to other people and activities, where needed. The patronage of the Maják award was taken over by the Governor of the Pilsen Region, Rudolf Špoták. The event is part of the celebration of 25 years of the Intergenerational and Volunteer Center TOTEM.
“Volunteering is an activity that enriches not only the recipients of volunteer aid, but also those who dedicate themselves to it. It is probably not possible to truly appreciate all those who dedicate themselves to volunteering, but we can at least try to do so. The lighthouse is a tribute to the coordinators of volunteers in the Pilsen Region, their organizational and improvisation skills, the empathy and kindness with which they approach their work,” explains Vlastimila Faiferlíková, director of the Intergenerational and Volunteer Center TOTEM and adds: “Even these people carry out their activities with the highest commitment, but because they are not in the so-called front line, little is known about their actions.”
This year, the Maják award is given in our region for the third time, and other regions were also inspired by it and started to award their coordinators with the award of the same name. From the first year, Maják has been patronized by Rudolf Špoták – initially as a councilor of the Pilsen Region for the social sector and in the last two years already as the governor of the Pilsen Region.
“Giving your time to someone else, helping them when needed, I consider this to be the most valuable thing we can do for each other. Volunteering is an activity that a person must do from the heart and cannot be replaced. That is why I value all volunteers very much and for their I thank them for their work. And I am very happy that we can at least symbolically thank the coordinators of volunteer activities for the third time. appreciates the work of all volunteers Governor of the Pilsen Region, Rudolf Špoták.
List of awardees – Lighthouse 2024
Máják Award – “Merit” category
Michaela Šafránková, PONTON, zs
She has been working at PONTON since 2014 as a NZDM Pixla social worker, and her role is key both for the operation of the social service and for the successful functioning of the volunteering program. Her ability to motivate and inspire volunteers is admirable. Under her leadership, the volunteer program has grown to become a unique and integral part of our community. In addition to taking care of volunteers, he participates in the coordination of the Pilsen Fair Football League project. In addition to her work as a coordinator in PONTON, she is also appreciated for active sharing and networking with other volunteer organizations and active participation in joint events and campaigns in the region.
Lucie Vavrušková, To the Heart, vol
He has long-term merit in the coordination of volunteering in the Pilsen region. She started her coordinator role at the Faculty Hospital Plzeň (FN Plzeň) and continues in other NGOs in the region. Her commitment and innovative approach significantly influenced the development of volunteer programs not only in the hospital, but also in the wider community. She made a significant contribution to the establishment of the volunteer club at the ORAK (Oncology and Radiotherapy Clinic) at FN Plzeň, participated in the creation of the volunteer pastoral service at FN Plzeň and played a key role in concluding a cooperation agreement between FN Plzeň, the Pilsen Bishopric and the volunteer center TOTEM, which ensures this service. She participated in the founding of the K Srdci association, where she currently coordinates volunteer activities.
Anna Srbová, Municipal Charity
She stood at the birth of the Municipal Charity, and her contribution to the management of the Help to Prisoners and Personal Assistance projects, as well as her support of volunteer work in residential and other services of the Municipal Charity, cannot be overlooked. She currently works as a volunteer coordinator for the Three Kings Collection. He attends the Home of St. Zdislava, where he devotes himself to children and their mothers, helps families in difficult life situations and plays the organ or keyboards during church services.
Lighthouse Award – “Discovery of the Year” category
Sylva Krausová, Rokycany Gymnasium
She is a teacher at the Gymnázium and SOŠ in Rokycany, where with her innovative approach and enthusiasm she brought volunteer activities into the students’ curriculum. She has become a guide for students on their way to volunteering and active citizenship, supporting their ideas and motivating them to find ways to help. Under her leadership, students successfully implemented a number of projects, such as “Trees for Moravia,” which contributed to the restoration of nature after a natural disaster, or lectures focused on health protection. She supports student initiative and enthusiastically celebrates every success her students achieve. One of the great successes is the current victory of her student Adam Hečl, who recently won the prestigious award General Patton’s Honorary Scholarship.
Hana Ederová, Pojišťovna Kooperativa as
As an HR specialist, she plays a key role in the coordination of company volunteers from Kooperativa within its Pilsen and West Bohemian operations. In addition to cooperation with the non-profit organization TOTEM, zs., the company is also dedicated to wider community assistance. Kooperativa and TOTEM celebrate the second decade of joint cooperation, which began in the spring of 2009. He coordinates the charitable activities of his colleagues with great energy and enthusiasm. Her approach to the organization of company volunteers and other activities is very effective and at the same time kind.
Jana Fenclová, Církevní ZŠ and SŠ
She works as a long-term pedagogue and was at the birth of the social field at the elementary and secondary schools in Pilsen. With his work, he not only shapes future professionals in the field of social services, but also opens the way for his students to a deeper understanding of social needs and civic engagement. Their participation is thus not only formal, but is designed in such a way that the students meet the target groups of clients with whom they will work in their professional life. This motivates them to understand the diverse needs of people around them and leads them to be willing to help others. Her effort to connect education with civic engagement is an important way to prepare the young generation for life.
Máják award – “Heroes of today” category
Ljubi Diadjuk, Security volunteer Silver
Since her arrival in the city of Stříbra from Ukraine and her orientation in the local conditions, she has been involved in the implementation of urban volunteering. In 2024, for the first year, she is the coordinator of the Security Volunteer project with spillovers into the nascent local Ukrainian community. She is dedicated and often comes up with new ideas for events to ensure the connection of local residents with newly arrived citizens of another state. He is actively looking for common elements of volunteers’ sub-activities that will connect the nascent local inter-community.
Máják Award – “Jumper of the Year” category
Blanka Antošová, Touškov Society
He is a volunteer and at the same time coordinator of volunteers in the Our Touškov Association, where with his enthusiasm and organizational skills he contributes significantly to the implementation of cultural, sports and educational events for adults, children and youth. Together with the volunteers from Toushko, it also engages in activities aimed at supporting a healthy lifestyle, such as meetings, lectures, discussions, seminars and trainings, and looks for and supports space for leisure activities of fellow citizens in various directions. He is the heart, head and hands of the Deka project for the Pilsen Hospice St. Lazarus. 735 decks have been completed, and thanks to her commitment, she found another non-profit organization in Příbram, which will take over the idea of the project and continue to spread it.
The Beacon Award – “My Beacon” category
Ivana Kašová, Hospice St. Lazarus
She is an important part of the St. Lazarus Hospice team, in which she is not only a great coordinator of volunteer activities, but also a person who can always caress the soul and give energy. Her ability to communicate goes hand in hand with empathy.
