Additionally to her lecturer work, Petra Stranska also leads four children clubs. I visited two clubs (one for younger category, another for older category) in a village at about 10 km from Hradec Kralove.
The children feel well in the club; they experience interest and acceptance of Petra. There are moments of chatting in a circle – about just anything, or about themselves – alternate with competitions or parlour games.
The club activities include also narration of stories described in the Bible. Petra narrates in an attractive manner and children join the discussion about the narrated story with pleasure. Some of them really surprised me by their clear understanding of important things.
The children also played the game called “Clink” where sharp eye and fast reaction are important. One boy did not feel well and wanted to go away because “he did not manage it and the others were always better than him.” He certainly appreciated highly Petra’s sensitive encouragement and help, so that he did not give up and went on competing in spite of not winning. I am sure he will remember it for his whole life – and maybe the other children will remember it together with him. I believe this is the reason why children like the clubs and why their parents send them there: knowing that it is a safe place with relations all of us would wish.
Petr Horacek, the Executive Director of INCZ
