The fourth Václav Havel Scholarship Concert
On Friday, 15 March 2019, the fourth benefit concert in support of the ECP’s Václav Havel Scholarship was held in the beautiful premises of the Barokní refektář Dominikánského kláštera. The aim of the event was to raise money for a Roma student to be able to study at the English College.
ECP student performances were joined by ECP alumna Patricia Fuxova and her band, Vesna, which was nominated for the prestigious Czech music award Anděl 2018. It was a pleasure to host our special guest Čhavorenge, an accomplished Roma children’s choir led by the enthusiastic and big-hearted Ida Kelarová.
Our students organised and hosted this special charity event, which demonstrates their leadership skills and independence. In addition, many of the performing students proved their creativity by presenting their own songs or compositions.
During the interval, there was a silent auction. Together with donations, the total raised amount reached CZK 228,575. This will go towards meeting the fees of a second Roma student, as the first ECP Václav Havel Scholar graduated in June 2018. The items donated for the auction included paintings by Roma children; a signed book by Madeleine Albright; a visit to the Czech Parliament, generously donated by Ivan Bartoš; or wine and other items from the Košík Farm led by Mrs Dáša Havlová.
In the year before his death, Václav Havel, the former President and Czech Patron of the English College Václav Havel, gave his permission to establish a scholarship in his name. It was to be awarded to a young person from a Roma family who would benefit from an ECP education.
