We spoke with Michael Cakrt, QA expert at Avenga Czechia, about an unusual passion – restoring the ruins of an old church. What began as a personal connection has grown into a long-term project combining history, manual work, and community. As Michael draws on his many years of experience in IT, we can see a similarity between this passion and technology: you need to understand the old system before you can build something new.

How did you get into restoring an old church?

"I’ve had a connection to this area – Bolkov Valley, near the town of Rudnik, located in the Giant Mountains – since childhood. Over time, I began noticing how many historical traces were slowly disappearing: abandoned buildings, neglected cemeteries, entire places without people. That’s when I started to wonder how valuable it would be to save at least one of them. 

Together with friends and some colleagues from Avenga, we founded a small association called RuRu (short for Ruins of Rudnik), focused on preserving historically significant sites in Rudnik. What started as an idea became a hands-on project centered around the ruins of an old Evangelical church."

Can you tell us more about the church?

"The church was built in 1785–1786, after Emperor Joseph II’s Edict of Tolerance allowed non-Catholics to practice their faith openly. It became the center of a local Protestant community. 

After World War II, the German-speaking population was expelled from Czechoslovakia, and the community disappeared. The last service was held in 1948, and the building was gradually looted and left to decay. Today, only the outer walls remain."

What does “restoring” mean in your case? 

"We’re not trying to rebuild the church or pursue any kind of religious renewal. Our goal is to preserve the ruin as a valuable historical and architectural site – a testament to the remarkable craftsmanship of the German builders who originally constructed it. We want to stabilize it, protect it from further decay, and make it accessible to the public. 

We started with practical work: clearing debris, removing overgrowth, restoring the cemetery, and reinforcing the masonry. It’s been a mix of physical work and learning by doing. 

We also wanted to bring people back to the site, not just fix the structure. One step was creating a small cultural festival RuRuFest, held annually near the church, a day full of music, exhibitions, and theatre that shows even a ruin can become a living place again. "

Do you see any connection between your hobby and your work? 

“I work in a technology-driven field focused on the future, which is probably why I enjoy doing something connected to the past. This project is about respecting what already exists - and giving it new meaning.”

Appreciation to those who are making it happen

Along with Michael, we want to highlight Avenga people who helped make RuRuFest happen and moved the restoration effort forward:

Join us to celebrate and appreciate everything you brought to the project.

Want to make an impact in your own way? Explore our open positions.