Project is supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through
the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and
the Norwegian Financial Mechanism intermediated by the Civil Society
Development Foundation (NROS).
From July 2008 OPU started realization of a new project „On the Start“ supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism intermediated by the Civil Society Development Foundation (NROS). Target group of the project are unaccompanied minors of foreign nationality living in the territory of the Czech Republic without their parents or other legal representatives who have been by a judicial decision placed under custody of a particular facility managed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, also known as the "Facility for Children – Foreigners." The purpose of the project is to prepare children and minors for living an independent life of their own after they themselves decide to or are obliged to leave the facility. The project should expand the scope and improve the quality of care of these minors, as well as initiate procedural changes. Main activities of the project will be free legal and social counseling and assistance, organizing workshops and, in individual cases, also granting material support. The output of the project will be an informative publication, which should provide the unaccompanied minors with answers to the most common questions related to their situation.
OPU business trip to Georgia 2-8 October, 2008
The representatives of Organization for Aid to Refugees visited Georgia to monitor the situation of refugees and extent of damage in the Czech-Georgian educational Centre in Gori after the armed conflict started in August 2008. The Czech–Georgian educational Centre for NGOs‘ experts working with refugees was established in April 2008 due to the financial support of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in frame of Trnsformation cooperation program. The Centre was implemeting its educational activities from spring 2008 up to the beginning of the armed conflict.
As a result of Russian invasion people left Gori during one day. OPU had no information about Centre activities during the conflict and it was necessary to monitor the situation in place. OPU also met UNHCR representatives in Tbilisi and discussed all possible means of support.
Beside that OPU experts visited two temporary accomodation facilities for refugees in Tbilisi. The first is located in the building of former publishing house in the centre of Tbilisi, the second - in the building of Sport Academy, where now live more than 1 400 refugees from South Ossetia. Some of them, especially those from Gori region are now coming back to their home villages.
Since facilities of some NGOs working with refugees were destroyed during the conflict, they continue their work in the Czech-Georgian educational Centre. Moreover, new branch will be set up in Tbilisi, and more then 26 refugees will attend English language and PC courses there till the end of the year. Internet connection will be available in Gori and Tbilisi branches for NGOs´ employees and refugees and Internet cafe will be set up as well.
People, forced to leave their home, mainly need food, clothing or blankets, because they have nothing. Nevertheless, OPU´s aim is not to provide immediate help, but to focuse on long-term training and skill acquisition of NGOs´employees working with refugees and refugees themselves. Creating and implementing individual social work methods, social and legal councelling or even available Internet connection have very important role in a process of Georgian civil society development.
OPU has opened new office in Liberec
OPU has opened a new office in Liberec district on an address: U Nisy 362/6, Liberec III, 460 01, door No. 42. The service will be available on even Thursdays (18. 9., 2. 10., 16. 10., 30. 10., 13. 11., 27. 11., 11. 12. 2008) from 10:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m.. Service will be provided to all foreigners and free of charge.
OPU Plzen has moved
OPU Plzeň has moved at new adress. You can find us from 1st September at the adress: Tylova 1, Plzeň. The office is at the first floor, door number 20. Councelling is for foreigners with all types of residence.The open hours are: every Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 till 16:30. Contact phone number is: 739 413 989.
WORK IN CZECH (summary of the project)
Project System Support of Employment for Refugees and Foreigners with Permanent or Long-term Residence Permit in the Czech Republic in the framework of EQUAL Initiative finishes in August 2008. Project has been realized between 2005 and 2008. Organization for Aid to Refugees was part of the development partnership HEDERA in this project along with Society of Citizens assisting migrants (receiver of the project), Centre for Integration of Foreigners, Refugees Asotiation in the Czech Republic, Mosty pro lidská práva, Gender Information Centre Nora, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs-Department for Migration and Integration of Foreigners, Ministry of Education, youth and sports, Labour office Brno-country side, Labour office Brno-city, Masaryk University and Centre of Language Education. Aim of the project was to create and practically test programs which can help disadvantaged unemployed foreigners to increase their chances of finding employment in the local labour market. Clients had opportunity to take part in the project in long-term Czech language course (to the extent of 300 or 400 hours), computer course (to the extent of 60 hours), course on orientation in labour market (practically information about labour market-labour law documents, CV preparation, contact with employers, how to open trade license, taxes etc.) and motivational course (methods of self-knowledge). Important part of the project was individual social work with clients, possibility to get assistance in recognition of education or to get retraining course. 138 refugees and foreigners with permanent or long-term residence permit (92 women and 46 men) passed the project activities. 80 clients took part in long-term Czech language course, 46 took part in computer course, 26 clients took part in course on orientation in labour market and 13 clients took part in motivational course. Assistance in recognition of education was provided to 27 clients and retraining course was cashed to 6 clients (e.g. accounting, tourist guide etc.). 60 clients have found a job during the project. Development partnership HEDERA had participated in interanational cooperation (Transnatioanl partnership PEOPLE) with Italy-development partnersip Migra, Germany-development partnership Genia and Great Britain-development partnership Presto. The main purpose of this international cooperation was sharing the information and experience, to develop new innovational methods of work and programmes, forwarding and sharing these methods and teamwork on new programmes. All information and mainly project experience are published in following publicatons: • Methodology of Individual Social Work • Realization of Integration Courses • Realization of Czech Language Courses • Summary of the Project Realization • Comparative analysis about strategies of integration and selected areas of foreign issues in EU countries. If you have interest about these publications please contact Julie Hernandezová via e-mail:
or by phone (+420) 284 683 714.
News 
