A group of 19 young leaders (journalists, human rights and environmental activists and influencers) from 10 countries across the African continent were first received by the Secretary of State Radek Rubeš, who outlined the orientation of Czech foreign policy to the African guests and invited them to speak about engagement in their countries of origin. After the guided tour of the Czernin Palace, which gave our guests a brief overview of Czechia's modern and contemporary history, the discussion continued more in depth at a gala lunch under the auspices of the Director General of the Non-European Countries, Economic and Development Cooperation Section, Kateřina Sequensová, and the Directors of other selected departments.

Cool Czechia is a unique project of strategic communication and outreach toward African partners, both in terms of content and form. Its aim is to explain the Czech and Central European perception of major geopolitical challenges, including Russian aggression against Ukraine.

During the Prague part of the programme, (27 - 31 July), the guests will be received at the MFA, visit the Office of the President, the Parliament, as well as NGOs and media. The programme will then continue in Telč, on the basis of the traditional Summer School of European Studies.

The participants were identified in cooperation with the Czech embassies in the African territory. Thus, the MFA has the honour to establish and build promising relationships with representatives of Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zambia.