Christmas kindness Day at ECON MUNI supported Nojmánek Home and introduced Czech Christmas traditions

At the third annual Christmas Kindness Day at ECON MUNI on Tuesday, 9 December, students enjoyed Christmas cookies and other refreshments prepared by faculty staff and students themselves. The event was organised by the Student Chamber of the Academic Senate of ECON MUNI (SKAS ECON MUNI), who together with the Office for International Relations prepared workshops where both Czech and international students had the chance to experience traditional Czech Christmas customs such as pouring lead or floating boats.

According to Jakub Daněk, chairman of SKAS ECON MUNI, the event created a welcoming space where students could meet not only their classmates but also their teachers. "We wanted to come up with an event where these two groups could meet and talk informally. The pre-Christmas period seemed appropriate to us, because it is a time when people often get together," Daněk told to Stisk.

Supporting those close to us

For the second time this year, the proceeds from the charity buffet will go to the Nojmánek Home, which provides social care for people with mental and physical disabilities. "Nojmánek Home is located in a villa very close to our faculty. This means we are supporting an organisation whose clients we can meet," explained Daněk.

At Christmas Kindness Day, the clients of Nojmánek Home presented and offered their ceramic products, Christmas decorations and small gifts. According to Daněk, it is important that students can meet the clients of the home in person at the pre-Christmas event and clearly see who they are helping with their contribution.

"Our clients are grateful for anything. The fact that they can interact with other people, who offer them social inclusion, is welcome. They chat with students and faculty staff and also participate in the programme, and feel involved," described to Stisk Zuzana Stloukalová, head of Nojmánek Home.

I only saw Christmas celebrations in films

This year's Christmas Kindness Day is being coordinated by SKAS ECON MUNI together with the External Relations Office and the International Relations Office. The workshops are a way to involve international students more closely in the event and to introduce them to Czech Christmas traditions and customs.

"I come from Myanmar, and we don't really have Christmas in our country. I only saw Christmas celebrations in films and TV series, but I couldn't celebrate them even if I wanted to. When I came to the Czech Republic, I was really looking forward to them," said to Stisk Shoon Lei Nad, who studies Business Management and Finance at ECON MUNI. According to May Thingyan, who is studying the same programme, the winter season can be depressing, and the exam period can also be challenging. However, Christmas events and the festive atmosphere give her energy.

Christmas Kindness Day at ECON MUNI continues in the tradition of organising charity events at the faculty. This year, CZK 22,491 was raised for the Nojmánek Home. According to Daněk, one of the goals is to turn the charity buffet into a tradition that we can count on every year.

This article was originally published in the student daily news Online Stisk.