On the national holiday of 28 October, more than 250 participants - including dozens of Rotarians - gathered in Vestec near Prague to plant 100 trees, a living symbol of Rotary values. The event commemorated not only the founding of Czechoslovakia but also the centenary of Rotary clubs in our countries.

“This project is not merely a celebration of the past but a commitment to the future. We want it to become a tradition - for Rotary clubs to work together in creating living symbols of our values: service, friendship and responsibility,” said Jonathan Wootliff, President of Rotary Club Prague International.

Each tree is dedicated to an inspiring figure - among them Jan Masaryk, Tomáš Baťa and Václav Havel, but also other, less well-known yet equally important personalities such as MUDr Eva Siracká, MUDr Pavel Polák, ThMgr Milan Klapetek and Evžen Wichterle. Clubs from both the Czech Republic and Slovakia took part: Brno, Brno City, Český Krumlov, Klatovy, Ostrava International, Plzeň, Poděbrady, Prague International, Prag-Bohemia, Praha City, Praha Staré Město, Prostějov, Přerov, Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica Classic, Bratislava, Bratislava International, Nitra and Žilina International.

The planting forms part of a broader initiative that is set to continue - the aim is to build a community of clubs that will take part regularly in similar projects. If your club is still considering nominating a personality, there is still time to join in - please contact the project coordinators, Matěj Keku or Valerie Mandrykyna.

The entire event was organised in cooperation with the Partnership Foundation, the Ekopolis Foundation and the municipality of Vestec.

You can read more about the event via the following  link.