A Start in Life

The project “A Start in Life” focuses on 14-to 18-year-old children from children’s homes. Its aim is to provide the children with financial support during their preparation for the entry to life on the leave of the children’s home, to contribute to their independence and to help them find their own way.

Every child who participates in the project is provided with a special account. Every year the Fund contributes a fixed sum of CZK 2,500 to this account. Besides the annual fixed deposit, children chosen by their carers obtain a motivating bonus up to the amount of CZK 1,500 from the Fund in September every year, which is based on their results achieved in the previous school year. This bonus should assess good behavior, school performance improvement and extra school activities.

Every participant will be allowed to withdraw the money after they have reached 18 years of age, on the basis of an agreement with their carers and the approval of use of the financial means by court. The money can be used e.g. to buy necessary furnishings, to pay the first rent or to cover further education.

By 31st September 2007, 106 children’s homes from the whole of the Czech Republic took part in the project and the number of children enrolled in the project reached the number of 1304. As of the same date 1013 children had had their bank accounts opened to which they received contributions in the total amount of CZK 6,457,600 during the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.