We have created a special format for information sessions for Ukrainian refugees!

The information sessions for Ukrainian refugees were developed based on our long-running and successful "Welcome to the CR" project, which includes adaptation and integration courses (AIC).

According to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Czech Republic, AICs have been mandatory since January 1, 2021, for all third-country nationals residing in the Czech Republic on a long-term or permanent basis. This includes Ukraine.

The final format of the "Welcome to the CR" AIC also reflects the personal experiences of several Slovo 21 employees who have a refugee background and have been actively involved in the creation and implementation of the government's Concept for the Integration of Foreigners for the past 30 years.  

During the information sessions for Ukrainian refugees, which are inspired by the AIC, participants learn about the legislative framework related to residing in the Czech Republic, services provided by integration centers and non-profit organizations for foreigners, the education system for children and adults, Czech language courses, options for document nostrification, retraining, and more. The sessions also cover information on culture, leisure activities, healthcare, and other areas of daily life.

The information session project was created in cooperation with the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. The project's donors also include the Olga Havel Foundation, which contributed to increasing the expertise of our trainers.

Information sessions for refugees take place throughout the Czech Republic, primarily in accommodation facilities, Centers for Support of Integration of Foreigners (CPIC), or other venues such as parish halls, libraries, cinemas, and schools. Interested individuals learn about the sessions through flyers distributed by our field assistants and shared on social media.

The information sessions are led by professional instructors, mostly of Ukrainian origin, directly in Ukrainian or Russian, depending on the participants' preferences. For Roma refugees from Ukraine, interpretation into Hungarian or Romani is provided. The Slovo 21 organization's database currently includes 35 interpreters and instructors, most of whom are certified by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.

Information sessions for Roma refugees from Ukraine require a specific approach. They are conducted in Ukrainian and Russian, or in Czech with interpretation into Romani and Hungarian.  

In addition to instructors/interpreters, the presence of representatives of the Roma minority from the Czech Republic is essential at these meetings. They are mostly recruited from members of the Roma women's group Manushe, which has been operating under the Slovo 21 umbrella for twenty years and is very active throughout the Czech Republic.

The vast majority of Roma refugees are illiterate, so written information is not relevant for them. The content of these sessions is therefore specifically adapted to the needs and capabilities of this target group. Roma assistant instructors prepare continuously, providing necessary information based on practical examples from personal life and emphasizing the need for knowledge in all areas key to integration into Czech society (education, employment, customs, traditions, financial literacy, hygiene habits, etc.). Due to interpretation into various languages and the scope of the information provided, the sessions can last up to three hours. Part of the session takes the form of interviews and subsequent discussion.