What to do with children when the working hours of school clubs do not even fit with parents' working hours? Renata Rejchová (39), the mother of 7-year old Bára, is trying to find the answer to the question. She lives in Plzeň, works as an archaeologist and is also in business. Thus, she is quite busy.

Bára started attending school last autumn. Although she does not go to the standard primary school but a community club where the children are educated individually, the lessons do not last the whole day, though. Thus, the creation of a children's club, where the children are looked after before and after school, was more than welcomed.

The club started at the beginning of the school year. It is operated by a society called STUDNICE of which members have long-standing experience in managing projects supported by European funds. In the past, it concentrated on women on maternal leave and school-leavers and helped them to enter the job market or start businesses. One of such women on maternal leave was Renata, who needed advice on a business plan. “I remember it well. I came with a little child and was already pregnant with another one. Already at that time, I started thinking about individual education for my older daughter and I complained that it is impossible to work in such situation. So, it crossed our mind that we would establish a children's club. Renata became a member of the team that started the project; as a mother she knew what the parents need most”, describes Pavel Škarban, the project manager, about the beginning of the club.

The children's club is located in a rented space in the Leisure Centre in Plzeň - Bolevec. The club capacity includes 25 children and is fully occupied. Apart from the children from the community club it also covers the children from a nearby school. There are 5 female educators working different hours. “All the children are together in the morning and we divide them into groups in the afternoon. We are very busy between noon and 3 p.m.,” describes Pavel Škarban. The parents can leave their kids here at seven in the morning and pick them up at five at the latest. “Working hours of the club suit me a lot. Bára is there according to my needs. My acquaintance told me, that if she is five minutes late in the morning, the school club does not take the child. It cannot happen here,” says Renata with satisfaction.

The children can use a roomy gymnasium or play ping-pong. They can also use two more rooms - one for activities and the other one to relax. In the first one, they play musical instruments and can make (adequate) noise but in the second one, they have to calm down. The biggest advantage is a large garden of about five square meters. It does not look well maintained but this is on purpose. When the garden turns green in spring, it is like a jungle with different hideaways and recesses. And this is what the children love so much. “Bára is happy here; she does not want to go home sometimes. She would spend the entire day here without hesitation,” states Renata. Staying in the club is simply fun!