Dana Steinova, Center of Lifelong Learning in Prague

The Center of Lifelong Learning in Prague represents a new model of an intergenerational, non-vocational education for all ages. It bringst together programs that have succesfully existed for more than 15-20 years as independent educational projects and offers new ways of activation as well. It is a source of mental, physical and social activity for thousands of its students and increases the quality of their lives.

It has a strong social message , offering top quality lectures for affordable price in order to make education accessible for disadvantaged groups such as mothers on maternity leave,disabled,retired and unemployed people.They make 99.99 % of all students They pay no tuition, only a low registration fee.

Besides continuing education programs with lectures and seminars on various academic subjects and general knowledge topics, intergenerational study activities and health prevention organised for the students by the Center, there are also additional activities which are organized on voluntary basis by the Center students. Club of Mutual Understanding is offering over 30 language classes, Yoga, Thai-chi, remedial training against osteoporosis, dance, painting, Bridge, handicraft, dances, etc.. All these classes are taught free of charge by the Center students and their colleagues are paying a token entry fee in order to take part in these activities. Fee is used for rent of the rooms in which the classes take place. Such activities mean a valuable contribution to the new life program which the students are seeking for, not only for those who are their takers but also their givers, who feel useful again.

Dana Steinova and Jarmila Radechovska, born in 1920, who was teaching a dance class to the elderly at Miami-Dade Community College, FL, USA till 1999. In 2000 she came back to Prague after 32 years and started to teach a dance class to the senior students of the Center of Lifelong Learning. Prof. Radechovska is one of 30 people who are teaching classes for their colleagues on voluntary basis.

dana_stein@volny.cz