Prague’s International Charity Market: Embassies unite to support Czech charities
This Sunday, December 1, Prague will host the annual International Charity Market. Organized by local embassies and the Diplomatic Spouses Association, this one-day event will feature Christmas gifts and Saint Nicholas treats from over 40 countries, with all proceeds supporting Czech charities.
Established more than 20 years ago, Prague’s International Charity Market has become one of the city’s signature Christmas season events. This year, the market will take place at a new venue, Prague’s Congress Centre.
Anne Huisinga-Paret, the spouse of the Dutch ambassador to Czechia and president of the Diplomatic Spouses Association, highlighted the unique opportunity for visitors to shop for a good cause:
“We have 46 embassies with stands and they will be selling all sorts of beautiful handmade products. Food products, specialties from their countries, which make great Christmas or St. Nicholas gifts. It will be a feast for the eyes and the ears.”
Ms. Huisinga-Paret also emphasized that the market celebrates cultural diversity:
“Well, first of all, we're celebrating our cultural diversity. And we're celebrating the fact that we, as countries in a divided world, can be here together and do this together in Prague. It's very rare to be able to cooperate in this way.
“But the main purpose of this market is actually to raise money for Czech charities. It is the way for the diplomatic community in Prague to do something, to give something back to the Czech society, the country which so graciously hosts us.”
The charities supported by the event change each year and are chosen through a careful selection process, she says:
“We invite them to submit their proposals to us, after the market, with a plan on what they need money for. And then, in the course of the month of January and February, we will be selecting the charities that we decide to award grants to. Last year, we had a selection of 14 Czech charities, which focused on working with children and young people.”
This year’s market also brings some exciting novelties, including a silent auction:
“Well, it's very exciting this year because next to the Tombola, which we have done in the past, we are also, this year as a new item, doing a silent auction and we have some very wonderful items being auctioned. One of them is a Canadian hockey jersey with the signatures of the Canadian ice hockey team and people will be able to bid for that shirt.”
Details about the annual Prague Christmas market can be found on the website of the Diplomatic Spouses Association
