Centipede: To Make Children Happy. Covid through Children's Eyes

Czech Centers in cooperation with the Movement On Own Feet-Centipede and Israel's Ministry of Education are thrilled to invite you to the exhibition „Centipede: To make children happy. Covid through children’s eyes“. Exhibition of children's art works capturing everyday reality from the pandemic period. Part of the exhibition has already been presented in the Czech Republic and is continuing in Israel now. It will present the work of children from Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Austria, Greece, Slovakia, Great Britain and the Czech Republic. The exhibition was created under the patronage of the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, General Aleš Opata and The Metropolitan Archbishop of Prague, The Czech Primate Dominic Cardinal Duka OP.

Movement „On Own Feet“

Movement „On Own Feet“ is recognized as a fully voluntary humanitarian and peace organization, in which children help other children. It was founded by Czech living in Norway, Mrs. Bela Gran Jensen.

Nowadays, thousands of children and hundreds of teachers from the Czech Republic and other countries are participating in this project. The children are creating artworks, concerts, theater plays and many more. Furthermore, the Centipede weeks raise financial support to help ill children and children in need, not only in the Czech Republic, but also all around the world. Over the last 20 years, the movement cooperates also with the Czech Armed Forces in various conflict areas.

The Centipede movement has its patrons among important Czech and world personalities. The General Staff of the Czech Army, Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic and the soldiers from the Czech peace troops contribute significantly to the activities of the Movement. The work of Mrs. Jensen and the Centipede children has been awarded many times.

''It is quite encouraging, that our children, despite this difficult time, see the world in a optimistic way and full of colours.''

Běla Jensen

President od the movement "On Own Feet"

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''On Our Own Feet Centipede

Not only was I surprised but also very pleased that the movement can present itself in Israel. In a place so closely linked with the history of mankind. In fact, this is one of the cradles of the western civilization. The roots are in Israel, Greece and Rome, but especially in the place where the Book of books—Tanakh—the Bible was born. From this great gift, the Centipede – “On Own Feet” was created. However, still we have two feet, not a hundred.

The first pages of the Torah speak about the human being: “Male and female he created them.” He who is. And this makes four feet. And then Aristotle says: “Man is by nature a social animal.” Zoon politikon. And this is how the Centipede Movement is born … Not for itself but with the others and for the others. And here in Israel, the following was pronounced for the very first time: “Whatever you did for one of the least, you did for me.”

So, no one is “small”; centipede children are capable of humbling us, the “big and adult”. Just as Israel cannot live without a brave and capable army, the Centipede is an army and lives with an army. The help of Centipede children gives the final answer as to why we have an army. For all of this we thank above all the brave and wise women who are in command of this large army of children. And as if in the distance, in the haze, I can see a challenge and an example that reminds me of Golda Meir but in the Centipede she is white-haired!

I would like to thank the whole Centipede for the thirty years of dedication and I wish for the help of generous people and on top of that, “Chesed” of the Eternal on every future day.''

Dominik Cardinal Duka OP

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Prague, Primate of Bohemia, Patron of On Own Feet – Centipede

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''Movement "On Own Feet" – Centipede has been cooperating with the Czech Armed Forces for over 20 years. In this time, many wonderful projects were created. I myself coordinated several distributions of humanitarian aid in the places of our deployment. For me, the Movement "On Own Feet" has two main directions. First, it helps children, who are often distressed by the armed conflicts and focuses on their education. Second, it brings solidarity to the children and teach them the worth of life in freedom. Many thanks to the founder and the soul of the movement Běla Gran Jensen for her enthusiasm and strenght in creating and leading this project until this day.''

General Aleš Opata

Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces,

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