Three Kings Collection returns to streets of Czechia
Each year following the Christmas holiday, the Czech charity Caritas begins their Three Kings Collection campaign – which raises funds for people in need across the country. The charity, which is recognized as the biggest collection campaign in Czechia, doesn’t have an ordinary collection box where donors can leave their crowns – volunteers dress up as the Three Kings and go from door to door asking for donations. Julie Růžičková, head of communications for Caritas, told me more.
For our listeners who may not know about the Three Kings Collection, can you tell us about how it’s organized?
“The Three Kings Collection is the biggest charity collection in the country. It’s fantastic because it very easily gets volunteers across all age groups involved. We have over 70,000 volunteers that participate each year, and kids are the main volunteer group. Until now, the charity has raised over two billions crowns in donations, it’s amazing how successful it is, and it’s because of the traditional Christian history and principles it is based on.”
When people donate to the charity, to what cause is their money going to exactly?
“It supports services within the whole country that are very important to the Czech Republic. Caritas supports elderly people, ill people, single mothers, and people experiencing homelessness. Each year, the committee of the Three Kings Collection reviews all the possible projects that Caritas is working on. Based on the decision of this committee before the Three Kings Collection begins on January 1st, it is very clear and obvious which projects will be supported. People can check our website and see what projects will be supported this year based on the donations collected.”
I want to talk about the execution of this charity. It’s not just a typical donation box, volunteers are actively dressed in costumes of the Three Kings and carolling, can you tell me about how that’s a part of the societal recollection of this charity?
“It definitely is, many volunteers have the costumes of the Three Kings, and the children love it. All the children who go out are always supervised by an adult, so they are never alone. As you mentioned, it does look like theatre in many cases. Around the country, local chapters of Caritas really organize big events. They even bring animals into the streets, for example camels. Based on the traditional stories, the Three Kings are guided by a big group with traditional animals. People love it – and what’s very good is many different people take part, not only children. Adults, local politicians – no matter the profession volunteers have, they just want to be part of it, and people just enjoy it so much.”
