From Romani courses to team building: how Slovo 21 is developing from within.

At Slovo 21, we are constantly learning, adapting to new challenges, and looking for ways to do our work as well as possible. Organizational development is a long-term journey that begins with individual employees and their skills. It also concerns the way we communicate with each other and with the outside world. Over the past year, we have focused on education in various areas, and the organization's visual identity has also undergone a transformation to ensure that all information is as clear and accessible as possible.

The work environment is changing, partly due to the influence of rapidly developing technologies. In areas such as AI, there is a need for education so that we can use new tools responsibly and effectively. Kačka, who attended an AI training session, evaluates the experience positively: "The course helped me better understand how to use these tools effectively and showed me new ways to simplify and streamline my work tasks. I also appreciate the practical examples and tips that I can use directly in my work." We have also completed a course on Excel for beginners, because you have to start somewhere.

 Internal organizational development, in the form of course offerings and team building, is organized by Nikolas Petik. He describes how he tries to ensure that the courses truly meet the current needs of the organization: "I walk through the offices and find out who needs what and what there is interest in. There is always the option to plan individual training for those interested in a specific topic. It’s simply about supporting our employees." A great deal was accomplished last year. One very useful course, for example, dealt with organizing music events, which was particularly practical for the team behind the Khamoro World Roma Festival. Kačka adds that the course focused on resolving crisis situations that can arise during an event. Blanka, on the other hand, participated in long-term courses at Charles University. One of them focused on adult education, which is useful for her today primarily because she leads instructors for adaptation-integration courses organized by Slovo 21.

At Slovo, in addition to practical skills, it is essential to have the best possible chance to understand the groups of people we work with. One such opportunity was, for example, a Romani language course. "It was a great experience. For one thing, I gained the basics to understand Romani, which is very useful given that I work with Romani youth. At the same time, language reflects culture, and it is important to know and understand it. Last but not least, I am Romani myself and know a few basic words, but I am glad I had the opportunity to deepen my knowledge," Jana recalls of the course.

We are also happy that we managed to move away from our old website model. Today, we have a brand new one for the public, with a clear and functional visual identity. And because development should never end, Nikolas is already preparing a team-building event for the entire organization, which will take place in the autumn. "It will be an opportunity to discuss everything that has been accomplished, as well as what hasn't. But the most important thing is that we will all meet together. I want it to be fun above all else. I have a game prepared, but that’s still a secret."