Czech Republic - Année européenne du bénévolat 2011

• Word for volunteering: dobrovolnik/dobrovolnych
• Words for associations: o.s./ o.p.s.

In the Czech Republic it is possible to make a distinction between two kinds of volunteering depending on whether a volunteer is or is not a member of the organisation he or she volunteers for. The first kind is also called ‘mutually beneficial volunteering’ as opposed to the second kind which is called ‘publicly beneficial volunteering’. The Law on Voluntary.
Service applies to the latter one only.

Learn more, see the report of the European Commission about volunteering in Czech Republic

HESTIA - Národní dobrovolnické centrum

HESTIA was founded in 1993 as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation. Since 1995 HESTIA has coordinated the volunteer program for children "Big Brothers Big Sisters" in the Czech Republic. HESTIA - National Volunteer Center became a member of the international volunteer organization IAVE in 1999. In 1998 HESTIA founded the National Volunteer Center in cooperation with 14 other volunteer centers from Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic countries and Euroasia. The National Volunteer Center organizes programs and projects in the field of social work, social and medical care, culture and a wide range of youth programs. Its main activities are:

• research, training and education ;
• publication ;
• consultations, supervision and affiliation for volunteers and professionals ;
• making national and international contacts with institutions bearing similar activities and initiatives ;
• publicizing activities.