WORDS: MIA MEDAKOVIC
INTERVIEW: BARBORA KUCHTOVA
PHOTOS: FROM PRIVATE ARCHIVE AND MIA MEDAKOVIC
BARBORA KUCHTOVÁ CAME TO BELGRADE AS THE WIFE OF A CZECH CAREER DIPLOMAT AND AS THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN AGES 18 AND 15. ORIGINALLY FROM PRAGUE, SHE ALSO LIVED IN ROME AND ZAGREB. IN ADDITION TO HER NATIVE LANGUAGE, SHE SPEAKS ENGLISH, ITALIAN, SERBIAN, AND SOME SPANISH. SHE GRADUATED IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. HER FIRST WORK EXPERIENCES WERE AS AN ITALIAN TUTOR AND AS A FINANCIAL AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR OBTAINING SOURCES FROM EUROPEAN FUNDS, AND LATER AS A SENIOR MANAGER FOR A CERTIFICATION GROUP IN PRAGUE. IN HER FREE TIME, SHE ENJOYS SPORTS LIKE SKIING, TENNIS, PILATES AND VOLLEYBALL. HER HOBBY INCLUDES PHOTOGRAPHY AND MORE RECENTLY THE GENEALOGY OF HER ANCESTORS.
THIS IS ALREADY HER SIXTH YEAR IN BELGRADE. SHE SPENT THREE YEARS COORDINATING BASP (BELGRADE AMBASSADOR’S SPOUSES&PARTNERS) AND NOW BELIEVES THAT HER EXPERIENCE THERE WILL HELP BENEFIT THE IWC AS WELL AS ITS PRESIDENT.
HOW DO YOU FEEL, AS A SPOUSE OF A CZECH AMBASSADOR, THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR CAREER SECOND, AND YOUR DIPLOMATIC MISSION FIRST?
I’m probably not exactly an example of an emancipated woman who absolutely has to build her own career. So it wasn’t a big sacrifice for me. For me, it is important to have a happy family, which is probably linked to the all-round support of my husband and a healthy environment for my children, which I hope I manage to provide; so somehow I didn’t even think about my own career.
YOU WROTE A BOOK. IT WILL BE PUBLISHED VERY SOON. WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT?
Yes and actually, I already published the book last month. It was originally intended to be just a compilation of several different family trees. Little by little it developed into a collection of family histories and other family ties. Specifically, it is about the family trees of six of my ancestral lines and at the same time, I researched information about several important ancestors among them. For example, the first producer of Prague ham was my great great-great-grandfather. Then I wrote about my great-great-grandfather, who was an important Prague businessman and the owner of the First Prague Auto Showroom who established the first Czech car dealership. In 1907, he traveled over 600 kilometers in his car to the Balkans, and the press at that time stated that he was the first motorist ever to arrive in Podgorica. Also, among other things, I am also writing about his daughter, my great-grandmother, who was the first woman in Austria-Hungary to receive a driver’s license in 1906!
While writing the book, I found out a lot of information about the life of my ancestors, so in the end the book became almost 300 pages long.
HOW DO YOU FEEL IN BELGRADE, AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THIS METROPOLIS?
I live very well in Belgrade and I like it here. Maybe it’s because, after all, the Czech and Serbian cultures are very similar. Even the nature of the people is very similar. Well, sometimes I have these thoughts after just a few days in the Czech Republic. Belgrade is basically a compact city. I can find everything I need to live here. There are places that I like particularly a lot, like Ada lake, where we like to go for long walks with our dog and where our son plays football.
YOU SPEAK SEVERAL LANGUAGES: ITALIAN, SERBIAN, ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND OF COURSE CZECH AS YOUR MOTHER TONGUE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF SWITCHING BETWEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES?
If I had to speak all languages at the same time, it would probably be difficult. Normally you need the other person to speak in their own language and then it works itself out. I would definitely not want to become an interpreter, but I have the greatest respect for all those who do it professionally.
I studied in Italy and taught Italian myself, so Italian is probably the language closest to me.
YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN`S CLUB. WHAT DO YOU FIND THE MOST ENJOYABLE AND EXCITING ABOUT LEADING THIS KIND OF ORGANIZATION?
So it’s definitely a way of belonging. The fact that we can achieve so much more than if we tried to do it individually. You can see that especially in our charity work. Recently, I asked the CEO of an important Serbian company for a contribution and his first response was: “Yes, I know about the IWC and your respectable work.” And such words really pleased me. And these words are of course a praise for the entire club and the previous management.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE TRADITIONAL CHARITY BAZAAR WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL ON DECEMBER 3RD?
The Charity Bazaar is the IWC’s largest fundraiser. Here we see the members of the IWC and the international diplomatic community working together for a good cause. The entire event is organized on a voluntary basis with many hours put in to make it the popular event that it has become.
This year, the visitors can look forward to sampling food from arround the world, buying country specific gifts and souvenirs and being entertained by a variety of cultural performances.
And the goal is simple. To raise as much money as possible for a good cause; this year for women’s empowerment.
The International Women’s Club of Belgrade (IWC) is holding its 20th annual charity bazaar on Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Belgrade. Funds raised at this charity event will be earmarked to support projects that focus on the critical theme of women empowerment, with a particular focus on vulnerability management, including areas such as domestic violence, extreme poverty and unemployed single parenthood.
The Bazaar also provides a perfect opportunity to learn about different countries and their culture without leaving Belgrade, taste international specialties and enjoy cultural programming and performances. A raffle will be held with prizes donated by companies and individuals.
TO WHOM WILL IWC DIRECT THE DONATIONS?
Women for women is the topic of this year. All proceeds will go to projects that support women empowerment. And in particular, we will support projects dealing with domestic violence, extreme poverty and unemployed single parenting.
IT IS VERY HARD TO ORGANIZE THIS KIND OF CHARITY BAZAAR. DO YOU HAVE PARTNERS WHO HELP AND FOLLOW THE IWC?
Most of the IWC members participate in the Bazaar in some way. Of course, some are more involved than others. For example, there is the Bazaar Committee that works intensively on the entire organization of the event. But many others are also personally involved on the day itself. And then there are the spouses of ambassadors, who are also IWC members, who usually have their own booth at the Bazaar. Of course, we also have the support of many partners who contribute to the success of the bazaar with donations and sponsorships.
WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE IWC?
Creating an environment where women feel welcome and for those new to Serbia, building friendships, acquainting them with the local culture and raising funds for selected charities in Serbia.
THE TOPIC OF THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF RYL MAGAZINE IS “100 PATHS 1 AIM”. DO YOU RECOGNIZE YOURSELF IN THIS SENTENCE?
It probably depends on who imagines what this topic means. If the aim is respectable, then any path to this goal should be the right one.
