Barber Course at Všehrdy Prison: A Joint Interview with Jonáš Motyčka and Jakub Pokorný

The Barber course at Všehrdy Prison came to life thanks to a combination of several key roles: VOLONTÉ, which runs the course; Všehrdy Prison, which supports its organisational delivery; and the duo Jonáš Motyčka (Správný start) and Jakub Pokorný (Royal Barber), who were behind the start of the cooperation and the training itself. We are publishing this joint interview as a look back at the pilot run of the course shortly before its culmination — on 20 January, five participants will take the final exam; after successful completion, they will receive a certificate.

At VOLONTÉ, we believe that change often doesn’t begin with big words, but with one concrete step. For us, “the will to help” means connecting people, creating opportunities, and doing things in a way that has real impact in practice.

In this short joint interview, we bring two perspectives: Jonáš’s (why and how the course was created) and Jakub’s (what the training looks like and what it can offer participants).

How did this course come about in the first place?

Jonáš Motyčka:

“I have been working with juveniles at Všehrdy Prison for almost two years through my project Správný start. I’ve been involved in the issue of young people who have been through institutional care for over twelve years. My goal was to bring tools into the prison that would prepare juveniles for leaving. In addition to the workshops I run here for young people, the course was another piece of the puzzle — a logical step that can help juveniles build a better life after release from prison. The management of Všehrdy Prison was also enthusiastic about the idea.”

Jakub Pokorný:

“One of the things that convinced me to do it is that I’ve known Jonáš Motyčka from Správný start for a while. At the beginning, he helped me a lot on my journey, and in return I want to help too. I didn’t hesitate for a second — when Jonáš contacted me, I went for it immediately. I’m glad I can guide someone in a better direction, pass on experience, and improve their life.”

Jakub Pokorný – Royal Barb

Why barbering? Why does this trade make sense in this context?

Jonáš Motyčka:

“I think there are two dimensions. The first is that barbering is a trade that’s attractive to young people — it’s ‘sexy’; juveniles want to do it, they’re motivated, and it can also bring above-standard income. The second dimension is that it can be carried out directly during imprisonment — it doesn’t require special equipment, so the course can take place even behind prison walls.”

Jakub Pokorný:

“In practice, barbering helped me mainly with discipline and perseverance. It also helped me keep order and cleanliness in my life. Barbering isn’t only about the craft — it’s also about building relationships with clients, who often become lifelong friends.”

What was the hardest part at the start?

Jonáš Motyčka:

“Key was cooperation with the prison in selecting the right candidates who would join the course. Choosing juveniles who won’t commit a disciplinary offence during the course, won’t end up in isolation — in short, selecting young people who have the right and responsible mindset. As for the organisation itself, there were no major challenges; everything went ‘like clockwork’ — perhaps also thanks to the fact that we tried a pilot course in spring 2025.”

Jakub Pokorný:

“I was thinking about what format to use for teaching so I could pass on my experience as effectively as possible every day and motivate them to stay on that path and be persistent.”

What does the training look like in practice, and what is the “foundation” you build on?

Jonáš Motyčka:

“Definitely building a relationship with the trainer — and Jakub handles that perfectly. In training, it’s important that juveniles feel comfortable — not under pressure — and at the same time stay motivated. We take an attractive approach, not a pedantic, school-like one.”

Jakub Pokorný:

“At the very beginning, I introduce them to what the barber trade is and what it involves. In the first hours, it’s crucial to learn how to handle the tools and to familiarise students with hygiene, which is extremely important in this trade. Progress can be seen in every student day by day — even small improvements lead to big results.”

What should a participant take away at the end — not only in their hands, but also in their mind?

Jonáš Motyčka:

“It’s essential that they develop an even stronger relationship with the craft, realise how diverse a barber’s work can be, and do it with love. Everything is about practice — I’d like them to really commit to it and, after the end of their sentence, apply what they learned in real life: to ‘cut their way in’ at a barbershop and start building their own client base.”

Jakub Pokorný:

“The ideal graduate is someone who is genuinely interested and wants to get somewhere in life. They should be persistent, because you can’t learn everything in an instant. Practice makes perfect — in this trade, practice and the right mindset are incredibly important.”

What does “the will to help” mean to you in practice — and why does it make sense for you to cooperate with VOLONTÉ?

Jonáš Motyčka

Jonáš Motyčka:

“For me, the will to help is natural. I realised it at twenty-five — that I want to devote my life to a mission of direct, on-the-ground help. I think it’s crucial to cultivate this in people, and I’m very glad that even among the juveniles I helped at Všehrdy Prison, we managed to develop that will to help: today they want to give back to the community and, for example, they travel with me to present the Správný start project to children’s homes.”

“VOLONTÉ is a strong partner for me, with very similar values. The cooperation is also great because VOLONTÉ is open to my creativity and is always enthusiastic about financially supporting what I come up with within Správný start. It’s smooth cooperation that benefits both sides.”

Jakub Pokorný:

“It’s important to help each other so the world becomes a better place. It makes sense for me to cooperate with VOLONTÉ because they care about educating prisoners — which almost nobody is interested in.”

Quick wrap-up

The most common beginner mistake

Jonáš: Lack of patience — they want everything immediately.

Jakub: They want everything immediately.

What a barber must always have

Jonáš: A client-focused approach.

Jakub: An understanding and communicative approach with clients.

One sentence for someone starting from zero

Jonáš: Be consistent. People overestimate what they can do in a month, but underestimate what they can do in a year or two.

Jakub: Be persistent, don’t listen to people saying something can’t be done, go after what you want, and be yourself.

Conclusion

Thank you to Jonáš Motyčka and Jakub Pokorný for their energy, time, and trust. Thanks to them, “the will to help” has a concrete form in the Barber course.

The “Barber” course is funded through the project “VOL Comprehensive Employment Programme”, reg. no. CZ.03.01.01/00/24_078/0005026, and is supported by the Employment Plus Operational Programme, which is co-funded by the European Social Fund Plus.