Located on the so-called Glass Palace at Prague 6 in Náměstí Svobody, the Gallery Chodnik hosts the “Family is the Basis” exhibition from April 7 till May 16, 2016. Students from the Nad Aleji gymnasium under auspices of Prague 6 City Hall prepared the exhibition about active family problem solution on a global scale. Students presented their views on the role of traditional families in a modern society, which problems they face internationally and how it is possible to enforce personal responsibility for the sake of healthy society.
Exhibition is divided into two major parts: one is describing family order in different countries, the second is rather “practical” – it shows the way the issue is addressed by the humanitarian organizations.
The exhibition also provides information on how to help and contribute yourself with the NGO People in Need (Clovek v tisni).
Students got an opportunity to analyze family formation patterns from countries like Armenia, Egypt, India, Philippines, Japan, Ukraine, Cuba, and Zambia. What later emerged into several platforms with stories and statistics about marriages, birthrates and even most common names around the world.
One of the platforms displays how the students brainstormed some of the symptoms, causes, and consequences of non-functioning family. Furthermore, analyzing possibilities of social help for non-functioning families, students came up with the “tree of problems”.
Grandpa and Grandma Tell Us Stories platform explains generational differences in families and how to deal wit them. Gymnasium students interviewed their relatives about inter-family relationships an the time of their youth.
Moreover, students themselves were able to be in the shoes of young parents: Practice Baby Training allowed it. During the whole year students took care of a three-kilo plastic “baby”, filled with sand or flour, self-educating responsibility.
From the collaboration between Motol Hospital and Gymnasium ill children and their parents got a chance to express their hopes and needs in an artistic way. How We Help sculpture symbolizes the humanitarian activities like donations of food, medication, animals, organizing educational programs that help families and children in the Czech Republic to overcome temporary difficulties.
Organizers of the exhibition encourage everyone for an open discussion and solution of family issues: a little kindness and appreciation for the loved ones can stimulate positive family atmosphere.
Special thanks to one of the organizers PhDr. Barbara Jirsová.
Story and pictures by Arevik Zadoyan
