Czech Life | All stories

In the Czech Republic, where the state controlled everything under Communism, volunteering does not enjoy a long tradition. But some 20 years after the demise of the former regime, more and more young volunteers are actively changing the face of their country. One of them is Petra Milsimerová, who runs a project called Little Clown.

Every year, the colorful One World film festival – which just took place in Prague – turns the spotlight on human rights, screening scores of often fascinating documentaries from all corners of the globe. It also directly addresses young people, lending eye-opening DVDs to around half the schools in the Czech Republic, and holding special screenings for pupils.

What do teenagers do in their spare time? Cha-cha, fox-trot and waltz might not be the first things to come to mind, but here in the Czech Republic, lessons in ballroom dancing are still an important rite of passage for most adolescents.

Long gone are the days that Czechs had very few options when it came to furnishing their homes. In the grey old days of planned economy, most flats would look very similar. With the end of communism, many Western chain stores flooded the market and there are much more items to choose from now. So how has the way Czechs furnish their homes changed? In this edition of Czech Life, we take a look inside peoples’ homes.

Nearly 21 years have passed since the Velvet Revolution. With the great political changes that it brought came many small but significant changes in people’s personal lives. One area that has certainly been affected is parenting. Parents today have much more choices than under communism, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. In this month’s edition of Czech Life, we speak to Czech mothers about their experiences, what they feel has changed since their own childhood and what they want to do differently than their parents.

A legacy of the communists’ fascination with the pre-fabricated building method, paneláky or tower block buildings to this day can be found across the Czech Republic, often in prominent and elevated places, towering over cities and towns. After all, they were considered the height of architectural and technological progress during communism.

It is perhaps the best-known Czech dish: svíčková, a beef roast with creamy vegetable sauce, served with dumplings. It can be found on the menu of virtually every Czech pub. This month in Czech Life, we take a look at this traditional dish, what makes it so special and find out if Czechs are still cooking their country’s classic meals at home.