A New Chapter for HelpMate: From Screens to Experience and Real Stability
The Chance 4 Children (C4C) team is turning off the monitors and hitting the road! HelpMate (Pomocník), a program that has provided systemic support for educators in children’s homes since 2021, is now entering its fourth consecutive year. This time, however, it is transforming into an “expedition” that leaves the online space to return to what matters most—personal meetings and face-to-face sharing of experiences.
Proven Results with a Clear Impact
- Since its launch in 2021, the program has involved 37 organizations and more than 300 trained professionals.
- The results are clear: participants have given the program an outstanding rating of 3 on a scale of 1–5.
- Supporting “those who help” has a direct impact on the climate and stability within children’s homes across the Czech Republic.
Why the Shift?
After three years of online education, we realized that some things simply cannot be conveyed through a webcam. The work of an educator is extremely demanding, requiring utmost psychological resilience. To ensure depth and personal growth, HelpMate is morphing from e-learning into four intensive two-day, in-person seminars per year.
Focus of the New “Expedition”
HelpMate‘s 4th edition responds to core needs that cannot be fully addressed digitally, solely via e-learning:
- Managing Emotional Load: Burnout prevention, professional sustainability, and maintaining inner peace.
- Relationship with the Child: Building safe and strong bonds even in the most challenging situations.
- Team Dynamics: Addressing conflicts and practicing radical openness in a safe environment.
- Motivation: Returning to the “why” behind the work and staying committed for the long term.
Learning Through Experience
Forget traditional lectures. The program relies on experiential learning and real-life simulations of cases from children’s homes. Educators will test how to react to specific situations in a safe environment, creating a qualitative leap in the entire care system.
“After all, only a stable adult can be the lighthouse that a child needs in a storm.”
An Investment in the Future
At C4C, we believe that investing in the stability and development of care-giver teams is the best investment in children’s futures. We help educators grow so they can better support the growth of the children in their care.
Get Involved
The fourth edition is open to all educators and starts in autumn 2026.
- More information: cz/programy/pomocnik/
- Contact: Jana Koláriková
- Email: j.kolarikova@c4c.cz
- Phone: +420 722 419 534
We support those who help children, because stability is the foundation for future opportunities.
