Four years of war. How Slovo 21 and UNHCR helped Ukrainians get back on their feet

Constant fear for one's life and the lives of loved ones. Uncertainty about what the next day will bring. Damaged relationships. It has been four years since the Russian invasion turned the lives of millions upside down. Slovo 21 also offered help to the thousands of Ukrainians who began arriving in the Czech Republic in search of safety immediately after the war began. It joined forces with UNHCR to address the most pressing needs—from verified information and language support to practical assistance in everyday situations. What began as chaos gradually evolved into a collaboration that helped thousands of people take the first step toward feeling safe. And perhaps even toward a new home.

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"When the war started, UNHCR approached us with an offer to collaborate. Their primary focus was supporting people with international protection. Slovo has many years of experience working with refugees, so they knew about us," explains Amra Mešić, who was there at the beginning of the partnership. UNHCR is a global humanitarian organization that provides aid to refugees in Europe. 

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It was established after World War II to help people displaced by the war. Originally, the organization was intended to operate for only a short, limited time. However, it gradually became clear that armed conflicts and migration would unfortunately not end anytime soon, and the end of one crisis was soon followed by another. As it turns out, things are not much different today.

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Responding to real needs

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At the beginning of the war, the goal was simple: to find out what the people who had just arrived in the Czech Republic really needed. We started looking for answers where they were most active—on social media. We created the "Slovo for Ukraine" accounts, which provided fast, clear, and verified information in Ukrainian. Crucially, the people behind them were women with international protection who had themselves arrived in the Czech Republic due to the ongoing war. 

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They knew from their own experience exactly what questions were on the minds of refugees—and what they were missing most at that moment. Gradually, a community of nearly twenty thousand followers formed around our Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts. We shared practical guides—such as how to file a tax return—as well as up-to-date information on legislative changes. Social media thus became a bridge between the chaos of the first few months and the assurance that war refugees had someone to turn to in their new country.

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Integration from language to mutual acceptance

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The first barrier for arriving refugees was language, especially when communicating with official authorities. That is why we started providing interpreting support—at the labor office, at the doctor's, and during psychotherapy. But an interpreter is only a starting point. True security comes from knowing the language yourself. That is why Slovo 21 has been running Czech language courses since the first months of the war. Because it is hard to build a new life without it. But integration is not just about vocabulary. 

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It is about relationships, understanding, and the feeling that you belong somewhere. In the Hello Czech Republic project, we talk to schoolchildren about migration and teach them that difference is not a threat. And through projects like "Family Next Door," we invite Czech and Ukrainian families to share a meal. After all, sharing a meal is the best way to break the ice.

"We tried to connect with people and provide them with a window into Czech society through individual activities," adds Amra Mešić.

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Motivation to continue

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The year 2025 brought change. Our partnership with UNHCR is now coming to an end, but we will continue with our core activities.

"We decided to focus on what matters most. That primarily means Czech language courses and interpretation support. The Family Next Door project will also continue," adds Amra Mešić.

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Over the past four years, 6,500 people have participated in our activities. Our online content has reached over 1,700,000 users. Behind every number is a real story—someone secured a job thanks to our interpretation services, another person finally understood a Czech form, and others found new Czech friends. Even though our partnership with UNHCR is ending, our experience and commitment remain. The war is not over. And as long as people are fleeing fear and uncertainty, we are ready to help. 

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We would like to express our sincere thanks to UNHCR for supporting our projects.

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