The Healthy Youth worker Marek Vicany works with children and youngsters in a very specific way. In a single day, you can encounter him in two different roles, both of which fully capture the diversity of his ministry: in the morning, he is a rap singer at a concert where enthusiastic elementary school pupils dance and sing to the rhythm of Marek’s band; in the afternoon, he is a kind but demanding soccer coach in an isolated Gipsy community.
Marek and Jamal went through difficult times in their childhood. Today, they sing together in a band and teach children that forgiveness and working on good relationships have a profound meaning.
Mark’s day begins early in the morning when he and his band High Vibes have to set off for their concert venue, which could be anywhere in the country. The musicians unload their equipment, prepare the hall, tune their instruments and warm up their voices, and then it’s time to get down to business. In this case, the show is an educational concert with a modern twist, where stories from real life about interpersonal relationships are interspersed with rock and rap songs and dancing by the audience, which consists of elementary school pupils.
The focus of the entire event, entitled On the Waves of Friendship, is clear: preventing bullying, promoting mindfulness and positive relationships with an emphasis on forgiveness.
The latter, in particular, is not just theoretical. Marek has known the other singer, Jamal, since elementary school – as the successful child of wealthy parents, Marek actually bullied Jamal, mainly because of his different skin color. It took many years for them to understand and forgive each other.
That is why today they can stand in front of a moved audience and interpret their shared story. It is clear that the children know exactly what their idols on stage are talking about. We hear more such stories and challenges during the concert, and everything is framed by energetic songs, during which the pupils can “rock out” together with the band.
After the event, pupils can come and take pictures with the band, exchange a few words, or exchange contact details. There are also moments of emotion and tears. The band members try to convey the message to young people that they are just like them, struggling with relationships and forgiveness and dealing with the same problems.
Every meeting of young soccer players begins with a group line-up.
Cut. It is two o’clock in the afternoon, classes at the elementary school in an excluded locality in Marek’s hometown have ended, and the children are going home. But not all of them. Twenty to thirty of them run happily to the gym. Marek is already preparing the scene there, this time dividing the large gym hall with plastic barriers into one larger and two smaller playing fields. The kids run to help him and together they add goals to each playing field.
After a while, everyone is standing in line, and before Marek divides them into three different games (i.e., six teams), he reviews the basic rules of the club with them: mutual respect, fair play, and competition without foul play. Then everyone knows where to go and what to do. Marek joins one of the teams of the oldest kids, and they play.
For Marek, this means keeping an eye on what’s happening on all the courts at the same time. When a problem arises on another court, he runs over to deal with it. Otherwise, he advises and encourages his players during the game. The whole thing is very action-packed, and the hour passes very quickly.
At the end, the opponents shake hands, tidy up, and go their separate ways. In the meantime, Marek manages to exchange a few words with a specific child about their grades or how they are currently doing in their lives.
Marek’s ministry is incredibly energetic, entertaining, and varied. At first glance, his activities are linked by a desire to give children positive experiences and attitudes towards life. It is worth mentioning that if things had turned out differently, Marek could be a soccer star for one of the most famous Prague soccer teams today, where he trained from an early age. And we would be admiring him on television, perhaps even in the Champions League.
I am actually glad (and I am not alone) that Marek’s life took a different direction. This way, he can positively influence children whom he would probably never have met otherwise.
Martin Stavjanik, the Authorized Supervisor of the HY Program workers
