About us

HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z. ú. is Czech non-profit organization with more than 30 years of experience in volunteering. HESTIA was founded in 1993. The mission of HESTIA is to promote, support and develop volunteering in the Czech Republic. We run various programs focused on different target groups, all linked by the shared idea of volunteering.

"We believe in a society where active engagement, the willingness to initiate and implement positive change, are a natural part of everyone's life. At HESTIA, we contribute to this vision by supporting and developing volunteering in all its forms."

Pět P (Five P)

Since 1996 we have been running the Five P mentoring volunteering program in Prague. It’s based on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program which was established more than 100 years ago. The program is dedicated to children aged 6 to 15 years whose lives have been more challenging than those of other children their age. The program is based on the long-term, friendly relationship between a child and an adult volunteer. It provides help to children who face challenges in forming friendships due to health, family, educational, social, or other disadvantages. The pairs of children and volunteers spend one afternoon a week together engaging in recreational activities.

Corporate volunteering

Through this program, which we have been involved in since 2002, we facilitate natural connections between the commercial and non-profit sectors. We help companies establish corporate volunteering programs and ensure individual and team involvement. We demonstrate the benefits of corporate volunteering to managers and encourage employees to embrace altruism as part of their corporate culture. For employees, volunteering offers a valuable challenge and an opportunity for personal growth, diversification of their work activities, and strengthening of team spirit.

Křesadlo Award

We honor and motivate volunteers with the Křesadlo ('Firelock') Award. Its motto is: 'Award for ordinary people doing extraordinary things.' We have been presenting the Award since 2001. Every year, in cooperation with volunteer centers in ten cities or regions across the Czech Republic, we present this award to nearly one hundred volunteers. The award encourages volunteers to continue their efforts and bring joy to others, while also highlighting the important role of the non-profit sector in society.

Educational courses

Building on our established programs, we offer educational courses for coordinators of volunteers. One such course is 'Navigator,' accredited by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs as part of the lifelong learning for social services workers. This course helps participants deepen their understanding of volunteering, identify what is most important to them personally in their work, and create actionable plans to achieve their goals. We also provide courses tailored to specific interests and needs related to volunteering.

Insurance for volunteers

Another of our services to non-profit organizations is arranging insurance for volunteers. This includes accident insurance, liability insurance for damage caused by or to a volunteer, and coverage that meets the requirements of the Volunteer Services Act. We facilitate both long-term (annual) and short-term (for several days) insurance options. Additionally, we provide insurance for volunteers involved in zoo therapy.

Website dobrovolnik.cz

We make it easier for volunteers to find suitable organizations by providing information about various volunteering opportunities and offering a resource library for study. We operate the website www.dobrovolnik.cz, which serves as an informative portal about volunteering and volunteering programs. This website features a database of volunteering opportunities both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Promoting volunteering

We promote volunteering by producing a wide range of materials, including articles, radio and TV programs, guidelines, and publications for both the general and professional public. We collaborate with the media and make appearances on radio and television. We work to secure media coverage for volunteering because it unquestionably deserves recognition.

For over 30 years, we have been dedicated to the development, support and promotion of volunteering. Strong interpersonal relationships and a willingness to help others selflessly are the driving forces behind our work.