We help children
in centers for children and families
We prepare events for them and support their development.
ANGEL PROGRAM
It is a long-term developmental volunteer program, focused primarily on working with children and youth in Centers for Children and Families (former children’s homes), in foster families, but also on cooperation with children from biological families. It is implemented in the form of regular meetings of volunteers with children, so-called angel visits. The meetings take place either directly in the centers for children and families or outside them – on weekend or multi-day developmental educational stays.
An angel (volunteer) plays a supportive role in a child’s life. He is their good friend, reliable confidant, support or advisor. He helps them in difficult moments, guides them in the right direction when making important decisions, and at the same time shares with them the joyful moments of life.
If you become a volunteer who is our angel, you have several options:
- You can visit one child or a group of children from the Center for Children and Families and help them spend their time meaningfully; you will focus on an individual approach or collective development of mutual relationships.
- After training, you can go help out at Centers for Children and Families that have children with special needs or disabilities.
- You can also contribute to the full use of time for children from at-risk families by going on trips with them and also tutoring them if necessary.
- You have the opportunity to help foster families and their children arrange club and leisure activities.
- You can be an angel in low-threshold or community centers, where creative activities and tutoring are mainly done.
- Or it may be your mission to be an angel who leads children to God. This is a specific program for faithful volunteers.
„You don´t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.“
Zig Ziglar
INTO LIFE
This program combines several initiatives and projects that have one goal, which is to support young adults on their journey through life. Many young people from Centers for Children and Families and Families at Risk enter adult life with minimal life skills, low self-esteem and untreated trauma. The program therefore aims to support them and create a starting line towards independent living.
1. Young Adult Education
2. Domováci domovákom
3. Homeschool Parliament
4. School of Young Leaders
Education
is an informal education of young people from CDR, foster families and families in crisis, where participants have the opportunity to acquire life, communication and work skills. It is implemented in the form of experiential workshops, trainings. Education is also implemented with the participation of „former homeschoolers“ (people who previously grew up in CDR) in the form of living libraries. Education covers a wide range of topics – financial literacy, career guidance, housing, relationships, communication, etc.
Domováci domovákom
A nationwide initiative aimed at leading people previously growing up in CDR to pass on their experiences to younger people (from CDR) through educational meetings and live libraries.
Home Parliament
It is composed of current young adults as representatives from among children and young adults from the Centers for Children and Families. The aim of the parliament is to reflect on the current needs of young adults, express their feelings, opinions, provide suggestions, and innovative ideas towards improving the quality of life of children in the centers and thus increasing the quality of their competencies for easier independence and integration into the daily life of an adult.
School of Young Leaders
Many volunteers and employees of the Smile as a Gift Society are former „homebodys“. Our experience shows that young adults who have caught themselves in time and managed to process their past have grown into clever young leaders capable of managing projects and programs aimed at helping others. Therefore, we realized the need to increase the competencies of young people from CDR in the area of their personal and career growth and thus support their opportunity to join our work team.
„Small actions that a person takes are better than big ones that he only plans.“
Peter Marshall
TALENT DEVELOPMENT
This is an area of our work focused on supporting activities in which children from CDR, foster and biological families excel. Whether it is sports or dance talent, singing talent or other artistic skills.
These include activities such as sports games, the organization of the Sweetest Concert of the Year and dance camps, activities in the CDR aimed at developing artistic potential in children, the so-called „Uncle Peta’s Homecoming Kilometers“, ski trips,…