„SvobodUm , which is a play on words in Czech language meaning „Freedom House“, is based on a world famous concept

The SvobodaUceni.cz (Freedom to Learn) Initiative promoting respect towards children and their self-led education, has created the first ever centre for self-directed education in the Czech Republic. „SvobodUm“ was inspired by concepts such as the British Summerhill School and a playground for self-directed play „The Land“, and opened for children and others interested individuals and groups on 12th May 2018.

Voluntary Educational Laboratory

„SvobodUm“, in the village of Jindřichovice pod Smrkem, was founded as the first educational and leisure time laboratory for short and long term activities for self-directed education or unschooling supporters. “Unschooling” is based on belief that the most effective way to absorb information is the moment when a child is ready and shows the interest. The SvobodaUceni.cz Initiative is endeavoring to make self-directed education a legal alternative to the current obligatory school attendance system.

The house (SvobodUm) is also available for lectures, courses, visits, out-of-school education stays, family holidays and meetings of all fans and supporters of voluntary education and is respectful for others regardless of age, education level, sexual orientation or faith.
“We will try to form a fully-fledged and self-sufficient environment, with the potential to fulfill the educational needs of children and adults in a holistic way, and not only being a supplement to the school system. The main difference is the atmosphere and approach of towards all that is happening in SvobodUm,” says Anna Třešňáková, the initiator of the SvobodUm project.

Education, Sports and Play

“The activities in SvobodUm are voluntary and free from unsolicited evaluation. What, when and how to learn is determined by the children themselves; there are always respectful adults nearby. SvobodUm visitors can take part in any of the activities they like, individually or in a group. These could be mutual education, discussion, yoga classes, walks, work, games, adventure games, talking, cooking, rough-and-tumble play, sports, dancing, singing, bonfires or just doing nothing. The principle is a free choice of an individual and an absence of educational pressure, whatever they would like to do.”

The SvobodUm Way to Free Home

It took two years and checking out more than twenty locations for the Initiative members to find the right place and base. Finally, SvobodUm chose a location close to the border with Poland, 130 kilometers from Prague in the outskirts of a village Jindřichovice pod Smrkem. The property can currently house up to fifty people and is surrounded by 2.1 hectare of grassy land providing a wide range of possibilities. This new space also will allow experimentation and further development of these concepts and the future shaping of the property.

The SvobodUm project is funded by private donors, long time supporters’ contributions and the payment for holidays and other services. SvobodUm is not dependent in any way on grants and subsidies of the Czech Republic.

Do you want to come to come and see? Write to Michal Kandler.

How it looks like:

One of our inspiration: