Our founders
Volby pro Všechny was founded by passionate individuals who believe in the power of democracy and the importance of every vote.
As immigrants who live here and who became Czech citizens, we understand the challenges new citizens face in navigating the political system. Driven by a shared mission to empower communities, we aim to inspire civic engagement, counter populism, and strengthen democratic values across the Czech Republic.
Ben
I grew up in the USA, and have lived in many different countries, but in 2020 I chose to make the Czech Republic my home. I was a politics nerd even as a kid. I went on to get my doctorate in Political Science, and taught geopolitics classes as a university professor for more than a decade. I also worked for the British government for a time, and I continue to do freelance consulting for governments, non-governmental organizations, and multinational organizations, helping them with research, analysis, and evaluation. Civic education has always been part of my personal mission. To me, being a good citizen goes along with being an adult: we have rights, we have obligations, and so we should all work together to strengthen our democratic society and protect our own and others’ rights.
Suzanne
Originally from the Netherlands, where I was a teenager in the carefree nineties. Studying Russian, Political Science and European Union Studies slowly brought home how special it is to live in a democratic state. I will be the first one to say that it is far from perfect, and nowhere near as free and emphatic as what I would like to think is the promise of democracy, but the bottom line is that I am very grateful to live in a ‘democratic, free society’. With the current authoritarian trends growing, my awareness grows that we need to be active citizens to prevent authoritarianism from taking over. In modern times, history shows humans are at their bloody worst under totalitarianism, whilst democracy gives us at least a fleeting chance to make life better for everyone. I want that chance.
Juryj
I am originally from Belarus and have been living in the Czech Republic for over a decade, working in a tech hardware company. Even before moving, I had a deep interest in history and politics, but Belarus, unfortunately, ranks among the worst countries in terms of political freedoms.
Coming to the Czech Republic, I dreamed of taking part in the political life of a free and democratic country. Now, as a Czech citizen, I finally can. My motivation for being part of this project is simple: I want to help preserve the democracy and freedom that made the Czech Republic the place I longed to live in. I firmly believe that democracy is like riding a bicycle—it only moves forward if we keep pedaling. The moment we stop, it begins to fall. That’s why participation is not just important—it’s essential.