Bára Stárek (CZE)

Civil society leader, Executive Director of Díky, že můžem

Bára Stárek lives by her motto: “Young people can change the world.” Under her leadership, the student initiative Díky, že můžem ("Thanks We Can") has grown into a nationwide organization running sixteen projects that engage and educate young people in the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. As Executive Director, she leads Korzo Národní, the largest public celebration of the Velvet Revolution, which annually attracts over 100,000 visitors.

Her team brings modern history and pressing social issues into classrooms, supports high school students through the Díky Academy, and significantly boosted youth turnout in elections with the Díky, že můžem volit initiative. She fosters collaboration between NGOs, the public sector, and business, growing the organization’s annual funding tenfold in just a few years.

Thanks to her strategic leadership and talent for building bridges across society, Bára was selected as the only Czech participant in the Obama Foundation Leaders program, where she develops her leadership alongside 36 prominent changemakers from across Europe.