Culture
A postcard from Prague Pride
The Czech parade in August has been celebration and advocacy for equal rights and diversity as key fundamentals, like our Prague team experienced first-hand.
Sep 2024
It was a beautiful August summer day in the capital of Czech Republic, as the sun cast a golden glow over the historic cobblestone streets that were full of some 60,000 people proudly participating in the 14th Annual Prague Pride Parade Festival. Among them were our Avio Aero colleagues from the Prague site, joining in the celebration of LGBTIQ+ individuals and promoting equal rights for all.
This marks the second consecutive year that Avio Aero has sponsored the Parade that departed from Wenceslas Square, the landmark promenade right in the centre of Prague, just after midday and ended at Letna, where an entertainment and cultural program continued until around 10pm.
The participants - many adorned in brightly colored clothing, rainbow flags, and accessories - included Czechs and foreigners, politicians, company and organization representatives, ambassadors, celebrities, and families with children. “For me, it was an afternoon filled with energy, represented by a celebration of freedom, love and safety. A colorful culmination of a week in which things that are still to be solved were opened and discussed”, says Ivana Benesova, the new HR site leader for Avio Aero Prague. “Our company demonstrates inclusivity with action, not just words. We understand that a diverse and inclusive environment enhances employee engagement and innovation, improves employee experience and leads to higher employee satisfaction. Our goal is to make our company the best place to work for people of all backgrounds”.
“I was on the Pride parade for the first time, and I was surprised how nice and kind people were to each other. If someone accidentally pushed a person next to him, they apologized. People hugged, sang and danced. A very successful event, including a sitting at Letna”, Jana Stupkova, ITC Lead Specialist, says. “I was happy to take part in the Prague Pride again. It was great to see people caring about and advocating for equal rights. And I'm proud that my new company took part in it, demonstrating our support for equality. After we finished at Letna, sitting together and chatting was enjoyable. It was all a positive experience and I’m looking forward to the next year’s Pride.”
The festival’s slogan for this year was "Family is where the love is" and, as it’s been explained by Kamila Fröhlichová, “there are two reasons we chose this theme for this year. One of them is we want to celebrate the diversity of families, and indeed queer families have been here forever. The second point is that we want to point out that sometimes the word ‘family’ has been used to oppress LGBTQI+ people, for example by saying that family only applies to a mother, father, and children. Of course, we don’t agree with such statement.”
“Our company demonstrates inclusivity with action, not just words"
At Avio Aero, we value our colleagues as community. Community and family have in common that no one gets left behind. This means supporting each other through challenges, celebrating successes together, and fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration. A place where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best as we invent the future of flight, lift people up, and bring them home safely.
