Entering our third year of the Bootcamp for Talents of Social Innovation, a cohort of 20 business students has recently completed their transformative experience as social changemakers during a study tour to Prague from 29 Dec 2024 to 4 Jan 2025. Equipped with foundational knowledge of social innovation gained in Hong Kong, this overseas journey provided students with a fresh perspective on Prague as they appreciate the city’s beauty while uncovering the hidden social issues that happen every day behind the scenes.

Revealing the Social Issues behind Prague

To help our students understand local issues in Prague, our office collaborated with Pragulic, one of the social enterprises in Prague offering unique city experiences through the lens of homelessness, for an exclusive workshop and tour. Ms. Tereza Jureckova, Founder & CEO of Pragulic, shared her aspirations in establishing Pragulic and her challenging journey competing in the Social Impact Award in Prague, which greatly inspired our students who are aspiring to make a positive impact on society.

Another highlight of the workshop was a physical walking tour led by the homeless guide, Roman, who had experienced homelessness in Prague for 9 years. Participants followed his footsteps through the areas where the homeless lived, engaged in drug abuse, and gambling etc. This experience encouraged participants to reflect on the realities of urban life and consider how they could leverage their business efforts to drive positive change.

Learning the Business and History in Prague

Being hosted for the workshops by Light in the Dark s.r.o. and Prague Feminist Tours, our group was honoured to hear the founding stories of these two groups while they were still business ventures, especially how they bounced back from the recession brought by the pandemic. Both events were then followed by a city walk, viewing the old town through two different historical lenses: one focusing on the 18th-century bubonic plague and the other on the city’s feminist legacy.

Our journey extended to a company visit to METRANS, a.s., where students had a glimpse of how logistics connects the world through sustainable approaches. They also attended a customized business model workshop at Impact Hub Praha to learn about the organization’s efforts in supporting new social entrepreneurs.

As the new year approached during the journey, our group travelled to Kutná Hora, a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, on New Year’s Eve for a historical and cultural visit. Participants wandered through the medieval town of Kutná Hora, taking in the sights of the Gothic St. Barbara’s Church and the Sedlec Ossuary.

As the 7-day study tour drew to a successful close, we hope that the journey has left profound memories with each participant and has further motivated them to contribute to the community through their small efforts. In the meantime, our office will also continue to offer more global exposure to our students and is committed to nurturing more responsible future business leaders. Please stay tuned for our upcoming activities!