Frequently asked questions
Why is the Church building a school in the first place?
There are very few schools, and due to their special characteristics, not every building can be rented out as a school. The Church believes that there is also a symbolic element to this – we are committed to education as a flagship, and therefore having our own school is symbolic in a way. It will be visible.
Isn't that expensive for the church?
Yes. But the church has built many buildings in the past. In the 1920s and 1930s, there were dozens of buildings, in the last 30 years only a few churches (Mikulůvka, Prague – Jižní Město, Domažlice, Letohrad). If we see a purpose in the construction project, it is only a matter of calculating all the aspects. Simply looking at the amount of money is not enough.
The Diaconia also builds courageously where it sees a purpose (Pomněnka in Nové Město na Moravě, Vendolí near Svitavy, formerly the hospice in Valašské Meziříčí and others).
Would we build without subsidies from external funds?
It would probably be too expensive. But we have been counting on subsidies from European funds from the outset. However, we only now know the exact amount.
What is a 99-year ‘právo stavby’? What comes ‘afterwards’?
Under Czech law, the právo stavby is a transferable right, recorded in the Land Register, to construct and use a building on land owned by someone else. The building is legally treated as part of this right rather than part of the land, as would normally be the case. A právo stavby can be granted for a maximum of 99 years. Under the agreement between the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren (ECCB) and the Prague 7 District, once this term expires, ownership of the building will pass to the district, in return for compensation equal to 100% of its value at that time. This value will be determined by an expert jointly appointed by both parties.
However, only two schools receive the money, the EA has more...
The money will go towards a building that remains the property of the ECCB. Yes, but other schools are also supported – we have a coordinator for EA schools, we provide methodological support to all schools, and they are part of early intervention projects and internal support programmes called DaRP (Diaconal and Development Projects), which receive significant funding from the office's fundraising activities.
What if there are no more children in 20 years' time? What is the plan?
The contract establishing the právo stavby allows the building to be used for our two schools. A large construction project is in the pipeline in the vicinity of the school (Bubny), and in Prague 7 alone, the population is set to increase by around 20,000. The municipal plan provides for a corresponding increase in school places. As far as the EA Praha study programmes are concerned, it can be assumed that demand for both subjects will at least remain constant. However, we can negotiate with Prague 7 at any time to change the use of the building within the framework of the contract for the právo stavby.
Can the school be rented out commercially outside school hours (in the evenings, during holidays, etc.)?
Yes, the contract establishing the právo stavby allows this. The gym can be rented out, the kitchen can cook for other schools, etc. – all this is possible thanks to the funding title and the contract with the city.
