A new year of the Family Next Door project is starting – sign up now!

Although we come from different corners of the world, food is a universal language that brings us together. Sometimes, all it takes is a shared lunch to feel a greater sense of belonging and acceptance in a new country. Since 2004, under the auspices of Slovo 21, people from various cultures have been meeting with Czech families through the Family Next Door project. Its goal is to bring foreigners and the majority society closer together and foster mutual understanding. You can sign up for this year's edition right now!

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Two families—one Czech and one that has moved to the Czech Republic from abroad—meet for a shared meal. They treat each other to their favorite or national dishes and have the opportunity to meet new people and talk about anything that connects them or interests them. This is what a Family Next Door meeting looks like, through which Slovo 21 connects Czechs with families of foreigners, who may be closer to us than they seem at first glance.

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In past years, 1,800 families have already met in this way, coming from a wide variety of countries alongside the Czech families—including Syria, Belarus, Mongolia, Egypt, and many others. In recent years, the project has also played a significant role for many Ukrainian families, giving them the opportunity to better navigate life in the Czech Republic and meet people who could become a new anchor in times of trouble or a familiar face in the midst of everything foreign and new.

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"We are definitely open to signing up for this or a similar project again. I personally really enjoy these meetings because I remember how difficult it was for me after arriving in a foreign country to learn the language or figure out how things actually work there," says Veronika Vlachová, who participated in the project and met with a Ukrainian family.

You can sign up for this year's edition of Family Next Door using this form: https://1url.cz/u16pA. We are looking for families from all corners of the country.

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Using an entry questionnaire, applicants will be matched with a family that shares similar interests and topics. In the online form, in addition to basic information, you can indicate whether you would like to be the host household or the one visiting. It is also possible to list any dietary restrictions, allergies, or preferences. Throughout the process, an assistant from Slovo 21 is available to help with any uncertainties or initial shyness. All costs for the shared lunch are covered by the organization., so you don't even have to worry about that.

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Everyone who signs up will have the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and learn what life is like for neighbors they might not otherwise have the chance to meet. Sometimes, all it takes to overcome stereotypes and feel more at home is something as simple as a shared lunch.

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The Family Next Door meetings in 2025 are funded by UNHCR.