The winner of the Olga Havel Prize in 2022 is Dita Horochovská, the founder of the FORCE OF VOICE project. The Public Prize was awarded to Martin Škurek.

Dita Horochovská won the Award for helping people with limited mobility, to whom she passes on her experience in controlling a computer by voice. The laureate was the first to use the technology, participated in its development and became an everyday user.

With her friend and colleague Lukáš Srba, Dita Horochovská founded the association FORCE OF VOICE, which helps people with limited mobility to learn how to control a computer using their voice. "During the time of our association's existence we have trained more than 40 clients from different regions of the Czech Republic and with two or three exceptions they all use it, which is something amazing for us. It may be a small number for some, but since we do it in two, I think the number is not entirely bad. In addition, when a client controls the computer with his voice, he can be independent for several hours, so this helps the people who take care of our clients," explains Dita Horochovská.

For the sixth time, the Foundation also awarded the Olga Havel Prize to the public. The jury selected three personalities from among the nominees who were shortlisted by online voting. The Public Award went to Martin Škurek.

Martin Škurek is confined to a wheelchair, yet he lives life to the full. He works as an advisor at the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, where he helps clients draft appeals or lawsuits, and teaches as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Law at Palacký University in Olomouc. Every Friday morning for the past 12 years, he has spent at the Okýnko day care centre, where he volunteers to discuss various topics with the clients, from legal issues to guardianship to history and travel. He tries to set an example and show them that even with a handicap it is possible to achieve your dreams and goals. Martin has an active interest in local life and politics.

The award ceremony took place on 23 May at the Vzlet Cultural Centre. The event was attended by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The auspices of the Award were taken over by:

• Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
• Miluše Horská, Chairwoman of the Committee on Social Policy of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
• Milena Johnová, Prague City Councillor

Major media partners: Czech Radio Radiožurnál and Deník N

Partners: Vzlet, Minet Elektro, spol. s. r. o., ČSOB, Mountfield, Rückl, Volvo Car CZ, Auto Průhonice and Radio 1

The following received the Olga Havel Award:

FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT 

• Realfina, a.s. - for its longtime financial support of Founadion projects through Advent Concerts of Good Will organized by Kocián Šolc Balaštík, advokátní kancelář, s. r. o.
• Kateřina Vítová - for regular financial donations within the Friends of Goodwill Club
• MINET ELEKTRO spol. s r.o. - since 2015 contributes to Foundation's educational and sports projects
• aeqoom technologies, s.r.o. - for its longtime support of Foundation's fundraising events to help people with disabilities and for organizing the Goodwill Golf

FOR EFFECTIVE COOPERATION 

• Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway - for effective cooperation within the Active Citizens Fund program and regular participation in the Olga Havel Foundation Goodwill Run
• Aleš Kutner - for organizing charity netball tournaments in Radimovice u Želč for the benefit of children with disabilities
• Miloš Škorpil - for his longtime support of Foundation sports projects
• Ondřej Suchan, editor-in-chief of Czech Radio Radiožurnál - for his long-standing public education about Foundation projects

FOR OUTSTANDING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

• Refugee Aid Organisation - for almost 30 years of professional assistance to refugees and foreigners in the Czech Republic and for exceptional commitment to helping refugees from Ukraine.
• Slovo 21 - for the quality of its long-term projects aimed at the inclusion of Roma into the majority society and the integration of migrants from third countries.
• K srdci klíč - for almost 20 years of helping people in crisis situations, especially those related to the loss of housing and shelter.
• Elena Gorolová - for raising awareness about the illegal sterilization of Romani women and for her long struggle for their compensation.

SPECIAL THANKS FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO CIVIL SOCIETY

• Robert Basch, Director of the OSF Foundation