How pupils and students are shaping the future with Czech participation at EXPO
A key part of the extensive program for the Czechias's participation in EXPO 2025 is a creative education project. This project connects elementary, secondary, and vocational schools across the country, providing interactive educational materials and creative activities inspired by the EXPO 2025.
The project aims to foster the creativity of the younger generation and introduce them to the concept of world exhibitions. The program is being developed during the 2024/2025 school year under the guidance of Petra Čiháková, the founder of the 'Books a Little Differently' initiative.
Project "100 years of Czech literature in Japan"
Students from the Secondary Technical School in Šumperk have created a unique collection of 15 original comics inspired by classic Czech literature. The project commemorates the 100th anniversary of the translation of the first Czech literary work into Japanese – Karel Čapek's play R.U.R. Each comic brings a contemporary interpretation of the selected work while also reflecting the spirit of the unfinished triptych by Alphonse Mucha: The Age of Love, The Age of Reason, and The Age of Wisdom. This final collection is a tribute to the cultural dialogue between the Czech Republic and Japan.
Record-breaker René
The new Czech record-holder takes the form of the green mascot René, created from 971 national leaf-shaped messages written by children, expressing what they wish to become and their hopes for people around the world. A total of 1,121 students collaborated on this collective artwork. The giant mascot was officially recorded in the Czech Book of Records and has become a living symbol of the creativity of the young generation, sending clear messages to the world.
Mascot René as the main character of a trilingual comic book
This unique publication, bearing the same name as the theme of the Czech Republic's participation in the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition – Talent and Creativity for Life, was created in collaboration with 25 individuals and represents a fusion of an original story, artistic rendering, and educational content. It was illustrated by 14 students from the Secondary Pedagogical School in Krnov, who created a total of 68 illustrations. Child heroes – Anna, Martin, and the mascot René – guide readers through the world of Czech personalities, inventions, natural beauties, historical milestones, and traditions. Thanks to its engaging narrative, visual design, and rich factual material, the book appeals to readers of all ages and introduces them to Czech identity in a fun and accessible way.
Authors: Petra Čiháková, Jiří Brůna
Illustrators: Viktor Genčúr, Mariana Špičáková, Andrea Vlková,
Markéta Janečková, Hana Šumberová, Monika Vlková, Nikol Capuličová, Zuzana Müllerová, Adele Tazbírková, Tereza Seberová, Valérie Žůrková, Elena Strakošová, Marie Hlaváčová, Natálie Balažíková
Cover: Nicolas Farrington-Douglas, Jakub Čermák, Lukáš Honzák
Japanese Translation: Aya Havlíčková Ishikawa
English Translation: Elinor Morrisby
Graphic Design and Typesetting: Jan Hrubeš
Chief Editor: Jiří Brůna
Proofreading: František Brož, guarantor of ČT Edu for Czech language and literature
Language Supervision: Josef Soukal, Chairman of the Association of Czech Language Teachers
Final Words Written By: Michaela Lesařová-Roubíčková, Ondřej Hýbl (Chairman of the Czech-Japanese Society) and Ondřej Soška (General Commissioner of the Czech Republic's participation in EXPO 2025).
100 years of EXPO in comics
Another sub-project of the educational project showcases 100 years of Czechoslovak and Czech exhibition design at world exhibitions organized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
Through engaging comics, the mascot René introduces readers to key moments and personalities associated with Czechoslovak and Czech expositions.
Czech (and Czechoslovak) successes at EXPO
The project is designed not only for the general public but also for schools, where it becomes a fun and educational tool for learning about Czech history at world exhibitions. Thanks to the trust of the KDE DOMOV MŮJ foundation,KDE DOMOV MŮJ an online version of comics and related riddles was created.
The comics were created by a student of the Secondary Industrial School of Clothing, specializing in scenography, František Křiklán. The scenarios were written by Petra Čiháková, language editing and the creation of riddles for schools were provided by a methodologist from the National Pedagogical Institute for Czech Language and Literature, František Brož. The quality and professional accuracy of the project were overseen by the chairman of the Association of Czech Language Teachers, Josef Soukal.
How was the word ROBOT created and WHY?
Another project is, for example, this visualization, created as a reminder of the first Czech book translated into Japanese – the famous drama R.U.R., which was published more than 100 years ago. What did Karel Čapek want to tell the world and what did he want to share with future generations? Listen…
Text: Petra Čiháková
Illustration:Štěpán Matoušek, V2A, Hellichovka – Secondary School of Graphic Arts
Programming: Michal Plička
Expert supervision: RNDr. Kamil Ubr, National Pedagogical Institute
EXPO 2025 in classroom: Worksheets for schools
As part of the project, a range of freely available materials was created for schools and the wider public, including worksheets on Japanese culture and the Czech participation at EXPO.
The worksheets are designed for primary and secondary school students and aim to spark interest in EXPO 2025 in Osaka, showcase Japan’s cultural richness, and highlight the significance of Czech participation in this international event.
These materials combine cultural exploration, cross-curricular learning, and language skill development. They were developed in collaboration with Mgr. František Brož, a didactics expert and methodology specialist in the field of Language and Language Communication – Czech Language (NPI CR).
Czech-Japanese Friendship
The collective artwork "René and Myaku-Myaku under the Sakura Trees" was created as a symbol of friendship, diversity, and the joy of collaborative creation. Under the blossoming sakura trees, two mascot figures of the EXPO 2025 world exhibition meet – the Japanese mascot Myaku-Myaku and the Czech mascot René. In a landscape full of colors and fantasy, different perspectives, experiences, and talents intertwine. Together, they create an image of harmony, creativity, and humanity – values that transcend borders and connect cultures and generations.
Authors: Students of class 2NSC, postgraduate studies SSUAŘ – Jáchym Tkaczyk, Viktorie Richterová, Eliška Cukrová, Stanislav Matějka, Anežka Rajnochová, Adéla Kašparová, Milan Kvasnička, Marcel Edmond Šimek, Viktorie Potůčková, Alexandr Tolar.
Supervision:Mgr. Lenka Němcová
Technique:Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 12 canvases, each 40 × 40 cm
Man and Czech Nature / Nature in Captivity of Man
As part of a broader educational program, a fashion collection was created in collaboration with the Czech participation in the EXPO 2025 world exhibition and presented at a show.
The central theme of the show is the Three Ages, inspired by the visitor's journey through the Czech pavilion – a tribute to Czech craftsmanship, human intellect, and the wisdom of nature. The individual designs combine fabric printed with the structure of subfossil oak, which is part of the Forest of Civilizations installation in the pavilion, with motifs of Moldavites and the sparkle of Czech garnet. These elements symbolize the deep roots of Czech culture, closely linked to nature and the memory of the landscape.
The contrasting circus-like concept of the show then emphasizes the delicate balance between seriousness and mask, between tradition and sustainability – between what man creates and what he simultaneously endangers.
The project was created in collaboration with the Books a Little Differently initiative and the Secondary Industrial School of Clothing in Holešovice.
