The IWC were guests of the Embassy of the Czech Republic for the December Coffee Morning event. Members of the club were greeted by the club president, Eun Hai Kim, spouse of the ambassador of Mexico, who shared upcoming events and plans for the club with the attendees and then introduced the hostess of the event, Barbora Kuchtová, spouse of the ambassador of Czechia. Kuchtová warmly welcomed the guests and invited them to try the traditional sweets commonly baked and enjoyed in Czechia for the Christmas Holidays.
The attendees were then addressed by H.E.Tomáš Kuchta, who, after expressing his pleasure at hosting the IWC after the restrictions of the past few years, presented a brief history of the embassy of Czechia, a monumental building at the heart of Belgrade designed to reflect the spirit of modern Czechoslovakia at the time. The architecture is a beautiful and elegant blend of Czech schools of functionalism and cubism and a representation of the ideals of modern Yugoslavia in breaking with conventional local forms.
Following the ambassador’s address was a presentation by Mina Lukić, director of the Children’s Home “Svratište” in Belgrade, who informed the attendees about the goals of this institution in providing aid to children in at-risk situations, particularly those living on the streets. The IWC’s latest charitable campaign has been aimed at bringing a bit of seasonal joy into their lives by working together with “Svratište” to prepare gift boxes, donated by the members, for the children that visit this institution.
The guests then enjoyed a choir performance by students from the British International School singing seasonal carols accompanied by refreshments and Czech Christmas sweets courtesy of their generous host and hostess.
