The week spent in the Czech Republic, at the Community Alphabet Intensive Track, was one of the most intense and transformative learning experiences I’ve had in recent years.
Five full days of exploration, reflection, authentic dialogue, and community work strategies gave me not just new tools, but a renewed perspective on how to build living, healthy, and inclusive communities.
The Journey (and the inevitable delay)
As always, the adventure started earlier than planned, with a Tarom delay and a small airport odyssey. But, as the saying goes, everything happens for a reason. I still made it in time for dinner and got to meet the rest of the participants — an evening that set the tone for the entire experience.
Diversity that unites
The group was made up of extraordinary people from Romania, the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Italy, Serbia, and Albania.
Although we came from different contexts, we were united by the same passion: working with people, practicing active listening, empathy, and genuine care for one another.
Very quickly, an atmosphere of trust and safety emerged, one where everyone felt heard, understood, and supported. It’s rare to find such a well-crafted setting where vulnerability is respected and collaboration feels natural, not forced.
What I learned
The program was impeccably designed. Each day had a central theme, from reflective practice and active listening to social identity, inclusive dialogue, and field visits in the communities of Ústí nad Labem and Litvínov.
For me, the most powerful moments were those of personal reflection. I realized how easy it is, once you get used to running large projects, to lose touch with the essence, with real people, in real communities.
I learned that working for and working with a community aren’t the same as working through the community, and the latter is the most honest and sustainable form of engagement.
The lesson from Libuše and Petr
The visit to Janov, where we met Libuše and Petr’s team, was truly eye-opening. I saw what it means to build trust step by step, year after year, without rushing or making big promises.
Communities don’t change through six-month projects, they change through consistency, humility, and presence.
It was a living lesson on how values, not just plans, can shape a place and restore its dignity.
In conclusion
Community Alphabet isn’t just a training program; it’s a transformative journey.
I’m returning home with a plan, but more importantly, with clarity: real change starts within, in how we listen, connect, and care for one another.
My heartfelt thanks go to the organizers, Via Foundation, Helen, Julia, and Stella, and to all the participants who turned these five days into a soul-level journey.