The Olga Havel Award < Projects | Výbor dobré vůle

The award was introduced by Olga Havel in 1995 with the aim to draw attention to the lives of people with disabilities, to the way they cope with their handicaps and help others despite of them. Their strength to overcome any obstacles which often even healthy people lack, was a great inspiration for the Committee of Good Will.

The project aims to

award outstanding individuals and companies for taking care of handicapped people
promote activities of NGOs in the Czech Republic
give thanks to donors, colleagues, and volunteers
promote the OHF activities via foreign sister organisations and significant donors

Prestigious Olga Havel Award ceremony is held annually in May. Olga attended the first event only – she passed away in January 1996. The Olga Havel Award has become a memory of a person, who has always stood up for rights of the endangered citizens.

The award handed over to outstanding individuals is a bronze sculpture called “Encouragement” made by Olbram Zoubek.

The Olga Havel Award candidates can be suggested by any citizen of the Czech Republic. Therefore the conditions for suggestions are announced in newspapers and information periodicals for the public sector at the beginning of each year. There are dozens of suggestions usually. Jury appointed by the Board of Directors of the OHF then decide just before the actual ceremony who will be given the award.

Very important part of the project is the promotion of civic organisations, which stand behind every single honoured person. These civic associations provide new forms of social and medical services and manage to provide help in humanly dignified ways. By this, the Foundation becomes a supporter of social services, which had not been known or used before and thus influences the social politics of the Czech Republic. An example of this is an honour given to the OHF for supporting a development of social activities in the CR, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of establishment of a social care department at the Faculty of Philosophy at the Charles University .

The Foundation, at the same time, uses the Olga Havel Award ceremony as an opportunity to give thanks to significant donors and colleagues.

The Olga Havel Award laureates

The Public Award laureates