BELA AND HER CHILDREN

Bela Gran Jensen visited Czechoslovakia for the first time in 1990 after living in Norway for twenty years. At that time Vaclav Havel was President. Six years later she received a special recognition from him for her great work with children. She founded an organization called Centipede (Stonozka in Czech) that was to help sick children all over the world.

Children draw and paint picture postcards and Bela sells them. The money is used to upgrade and outfit children’s hospitals. Vaclav Havel became one of the patrons of the project together with the General Secretary of NATO Lord George Robertson and many other persons including presidents, kings and queens. Bela’s idea became an international project. School children in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Norway, Poland, Germany, Italy, Canada, Argentina, etc. are also helping.

A special book written and illustrated by children was created. By selling this book the organizers of the project collected 70 million Czech crowns in 2003. The book continues to earn money for many hospitals and recreation centers. For more information please visit the websie: www.hnutinavlastnichnohou or stonozka.

So far the Archbishop’s Palace received more than 2000 art works for the exhibition “Czech Saint Anezka (Agnes)”. The exhibition will open on November 12, 2011 at the Strahov monastery under the title “Czech Saint Anezka- the genius of a Czech pedagogue”. Archbishop Dominik Duka promised to serve Holy Mass at the St.Vitus Cathedral on December 2, 2011 to support the work of the organization “On Our Own Legs” (Stonozka) and for the members of the Czech Army in the spirit of the Czech Saint Anezka. This occasion will also express gratitude for the fact that we all are able to help children who suffer as a result of war crimes.

BELA AND Prize ‘D’. This price was established eleven years ago. Basically it is an expression of appreciation and thanks to those individuals who support culture and charity work.

The following persons serve on the committee that awards this price: PhD. Ondrej Cerny, director of National Theater, Eva Maresova, High School Principal, Miroslav Bobek, director of the Prague Zoo, Tomio Okamura, business man, MUDr, Vlasimir Koza, Bc Miroslav Matejka “musician” Dita Kintsnerova and Bela Jensen. Bela has her own group of nominees called “The World of Bela Jensen-A Moral Example”. For this prize she nominated eleven candidates including the editor of Cesky Dialog- Czech Dialogue Ms Eva Strizovska. Bela also organized a meeting of all the nominees with Mons. Dominik Duka and other good people who help the needy. In a world which is full of negativity it is heartwarming to also learn about some good deeds.