Thursday, 17 October 2024
17:30 - 00:00
ŠKODA Muzeum, tř. Václava Klementa 294, Mladá Boleslav
The ceremonial evening of the third edition of the Creative Heroes Award Czech Republic was a marvellous celebration of the impact of creative thinking. We were honoured that we could applaud a range of incredible individiuals who gathered on stage because they decided to use their creativity to improve the lives of other people and the world we live in.
The jury of the Creative Heroes Award Czech Republic 2024 selected the final 15 nominees for the prestigious Creative Heroes Award. In each of five award categories, three potential Creative Heroes have been shorlisted. Most of them managed to come to the ŠKODA Museum in Mladá Boleslav, so we had the utmost pleasure to meet them in person and be inspired by their stories and creative approach to tackling various issues.
Meet the winners 2024
In award category 1:1 IMPACT ON A PERSONAL SCALE, the winner is Veronika Mašková Šibůrková with Messages on the Body / Vzkazy na těle.
Veronika, a teacher and social pedagogue, created the "Messages on the Body" project to prevent self-harm among students. It includes the "Self-Harm Support Box," which offers tools like relaxation methods with descriptions, assessment sheets, and wound care materials, implemented in schools to raise awareness and minimize incidents.
The other two finalists in this category were:
Simona Bagarová with MILA, who supports managerial teams in senior homes and advocates for better conditions for caregivers; and
Petra Mžourková with EDA, who focuses on early childhood care and social services especially for children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.
In award category 1:1,000 IMPACT ON A LOCAL SCALE, the winner is: Dušan Brabec with YoungLink.
With extensive experience in technology, project management and digitization, Dušan uses data science to predict potential issues in schools. His platform helps teachers and psychologists identify conflicts or risky behaviours early, preventing problems from escalating. Dušan emphasizes data privacy and uses network analysis to accurately assess classroom dynamics.
The other two finalists in this category were:
Richard Erben with Pronounce - vyslovuj.cz, a platform designed to help children and adults with speech impediments improve their communication skills; and
Karolína Barič with KORE & Rethink Architecture, who focuses on sustainable building design and consulting (KORE), and education on sustainable architecture (Rethink Architecture).
In award category 1:100,000 IMPACT ON A REGIONAL SCALE, the winner is: Jan Valeška with Soil Foundation / Nadace Pro půdu.
Jan is a pioneer of local, organic agriculture. He has co-founded community farms and a garden children's club. He serves on the boards of several organizations promoting sustainable food practices. His work emphasizes sustainable consumption and organic food. He strives to make organic food accessible at fair prices and build a food system based on fairness, personal ties, and sustainability.
The other two finalists in this category were:
Jana Merunková with yourchance, who drives societal progress in various fields, ranging from aiding young people from orphanages and foster care, to supporting Ukrainian refugees; and
Šárka Liolia from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, who has introduced hospital ombudsmen, a project aimed at enhancing patient-healthcare professional relations.
In award category 1:1,000,000 IMPACT ON A NATIONAL SCALE, the winner is: Martin Kozel with Teach Live / Učitel naživo.
Martin co-founded Učitel naživo to transform Czech education. Through programs like Teacher Live and Principal Live, he focuses on enhancing teaching and leadership skills, fostering quality relationships, trust, and personalized learning. His initiatives aim to reach 20,000 teachers and 1,000 principals by 2030, promoting joyful and equal learning opportunities for all children.
The other two finalists in this category were:
Aleš Kozák with The Institute for Monuments and Culture, which operates propamatky.cz portal and magazine, focusing on the restoration, financing, and usage of the Czech cultural heritage; and
Matěj Chytil with Byro, who is a dedicated public servant and political consultant specializing in sustainability, urban planning, and change management in public institutions.
In award category 1:1,000,000,000 IMPACT ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCALE, the winner is: František Mach of the University of West Bohemia.
František leads CIMRA research group, developing nature-inspired magnetically guided actuators for robotics and industry. His work spans from miniature medical robots to sustainable technologies. He founded Nextdrop and Nextcycle startups, showcasing innovation in water and waste management. František actively engages in science communication, inspiring the next generation of scientists.
The other two finalists in this category were:
Barbara Paldus with Codex Beauty Labs, who emphasizes the importance of clinically proven, data-driven products in beauty industry, and advocates for transparency in cosmetics labelling; and
Linette Manuel with Makeful, who is a driven young innovator dedicated to bridging the gap between technology and humanity, and a co-founder of the successful EduTech startup CODE Rebels.
The assembled audience elected Veronika Mašková Šibůrková as the CREATIVE SUPERHERO 2024.
Veronika Mašková Šibůrková who created the project ‘Messages on the Body’ / ‘Vzkazy na těle’, commented on winning the Creative Superhero title: “When I was heading to the Creative Heroes Award 2024 on Thursday 17th October, I felt very nervous, but I was also looking forward to meeting a lot of interesting people. I never dreamed I would win the 1:1 category, and winning the Creative Superhero title was totally unexpected. These awards mark another important milestone for me. They give me the motivation to continue my work and I believe they will help me reach out to those who had not heard about my project until Thursday evening. I really appreciate all the new collaborations. I very much appreciate the offer from Good Daddy, last year's winner, which will allow me to make contact with parents of self-harming children.”
Why the Creative Heroes Award?
With this award, we want to elevate the individuals behind creative impact. Actual people that have transitioned their creative ideas into real solutions that have had a positive impact on others. Often these people stay in the background, while we idolize celebrities. The real heroes can serve as role models for all of us. That is why we want to give them an award: to congratulate them on what they have achieved, to thank them for their contribution to society, to motivate them to keep going and to be an example for others to follow.
Platinum partner of the Creative Heroes Award Czech Republic is ŠKODA AUTO. Gold Partner is NN, and Silver Partners are Euronext and Voerman. Media Partner is Dialog Media. Balance is Motion is Design Partner. Catering Partners are Albert Czech Republic and HEINEKEN Czech Republic. D&B Confluence is Production Partner.
