by Larissa Petryca, on 17 May 2022 12:23:29 CEST
With the 2021/2022 year busily coming to its close, we are delighted to present a number of initiatives that have explored our annual theme #BeTheChange. Both in-class and outside of the classroom events were organized by various members of PCU community.
#BeTheChange was a call to wrestle with big questions and to be proactive in engaging with topics and issues we believe in. With many outside changes shaping our lives, the #BeTheChange annual theme aimed to bring us a sense of empowerment.
Friday Show
The first output to demonstrate the new theme was the Friday Show.
“Problem solving is core to the design thinking process and to artmaking in general.”
George Allen, Dean of the School of Art & Design.
Foundation Art, Design & Media Practice students were asked to meditate on the annual theme #BeTheChange and to create a poster in Photoshop that applied this message to a song of their choice. You can see the students’ work on their digital exhibition space on Instagram and listen to the song choices on their Spotify playlist.
#BeTheChange Mondays
Several students introduced their lives and passions in an Instagram #BeTheChange Mondays series initiated by our Social Media Ambassadors Celina and Scy. These short stories allow everyone to connect with the diversity of life experience, hobbies, skills and dreams of our students across faculties.
Be sure to read their revealing stories: Arulan (International Finance and Business accounting), Dasha (Creative Media Production), Tamta (Graphic Design), Angelo (ESME exchange student at school of Media and IT) and Shamilah (International Finance and Business Accounting).
Yoga and Meditation
In early December, Nelli and Filip from Student Services joined forces and combined their Yoga & Meditation classes into one powerful and positive evening workshop attended by students and staff of PCU.
The programme started with a guided meditation session that helped the group drop the stress and worries of the week. A yoga warm up led into a full session of yoga poses that energized all bodies in the room.
Numerous scientific studies have shown yoga and meditation are key for long-term vitality and happiness. PCU is committed to continuing yoga and meditation sessions to for those in the community who wish to develop their well-being and empowerment in this way.
PCU Clothes Swap and Charity Drive
In keeping with our sustainability initiatives, a Clothes Swap was organized by Student Council members. Students, lecturers and staff brought in clothes they no longer wanted and switched them for clothes that other people have brought in, while enjoying hot cocoa, baked goods, and mulled wine.
All of the remaining clothes were donated to Moment, our charity partner, that sells donated clothes in their store and gives the profit to charity projects. A total of 67 kg of clothes was donated!
Collection for Ukraine
In a joint initiative, students and staff organized a collection for refugees from Ukraine. Several boxes of essential items like clothes, food, first aid and hygiene supplies, tea, coffee and toys were donated by the PCU community
A team of student and staff volunteers sorted the items and delivered them to Ukrainian refugees to Šatník Charity Centre in Prague’s Holešovice district. A second collection was then arranged to provide Spring and Summer clothing for refugee families.
Buddies for Ukraine
Oleksandra from Graphic Design, with the help of a few other volunteers, developed this programme as part of her Specialization & Innovation class. Buddies for Ukraine aims to help new Ukrainian refugees feel supported and connected to the local community.
How? By helping them get to know people who have similar interests or occupation, or children of the same age, in the place of their temporary residence. Both refugees and locals can fill a simple form here and whenever a good match is found, they receive a follow-up email.
Get involved and #BeTheChange!
Help us find the best annual theme for 2022/2023!
1. "NoTimeToWaste
2. "FacingChange"
3. "ComingTogether"
4. "BeThChange"
5. ???
An annual theme should be engaging and relevant to students and lecturers from across all schools. Get involved in shaping such a theme by sharing your perspective in this form.
Finally, we would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all students, academics and staff who poured their energy and time into helping others, manifesting their creativity and organizing meaningful events!
