"Communication is not universal." How the Slovo 21 project supported intercultural competencies in practice
The Slovo 21 project, titled Strengthening Intercultural Competencies, helped civil servants better understand people from different cultural backgrounds and manage the situations they encounter in their work. The project concludes this August. In this interview, Kateřina Kopečná, the project's lead methodologist, discusses the project's progress, her experience as a trainer, and why there is no universal guide to communicating with others.
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PRESS RELEASE: Concerts and the Czech premiere of a film about Chaplin. At the end of May, Khamoro will once again bring the best of Romani culture to Prague
Roma music from around the world, film screenings, theatre of the oppressed, and the presentation of unique research on domestic violence in the Roma community. For the twenty-seventh time, Prague will host Khamoro during the last week of May.
I was surprised by how many women shared their experiences with domestic violence. – With Claudia Laburdová about the Speak Up project
The Speak Up project, focused on raising awareness about domestic violence within the Roma community, has been running since September 2023. Under the leadership of coordinator Claudia Laburdová, it has come a long way. At the heart of its various activities is the effort to inform women that violence in any form is not okay and that they do not have to face difficult situations alone.
The Journey / Traces of Stories exhibition begins in the Bata Principle exhibition in Zlín. Children fleeing the war in Ukraine share their stories.
They had only a few minutes to pack their essentials and leave their homes. The exhibition Journey / Traces of Stories, which opens on April 29, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Museum of Southeast Moravia in Zlín, shares the stories of Ukrainian children fleeing the war through 26 pairs of authentic shoes and excerpts from their personal accounts.
"I Will Not Be Silent": Slovo 21 and RomanoNet launch a campaign against antigypsyism
On the occasion of International Roma Day, April 8, 2025, the "I Will Not Be Silent" campaign launches, aiming to publicly reject and combat anti-Gypsyism—the deeply rooted prejudices and unfair treatment faced by Roma people.
AVELA: Tutoring in Kutná Hora helps Romani children find new motivation for education
Children and youth of Romani origin continue to face unequal access to education. The Avela project, organized by Slovo 21, offers children a helping hand in managing their academic responsibilities. The project provides assistance in various locations across the country. One of the cities where Avela program activities have been running for the past three months is Kutná Hora.
The theatrical performance Stories of the Survivors addresses the topic of the Roma Holocaust using a method that will move audiences to their core.
Under the auspices of the project of the same name by the Slovo 21 association, a unique production has been created, featuring seven non-professional actors whose family members were victims of the Romani Holocaust. Using the method of Theatre of the Oppressed, the production transforms the true stories of their families into a poignant testimony about a long-neglected injustice.
Finding common ground, even when it’s not easy: A course helping officials communicate with foreigners with an open mind
The Strengthening Intercultural Competencies project aims to help public administration and security personnel improve their communication skills. During a two-day workshop, attendees have the opportunity to learn how to better perceive the needs of third-country nationals.
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!
A source of inspiration for writing and an opportunity to right a wrong. – What does the Paramisara club mean to Romani women writers?
At the beginning of January, Prague hosted a meeting of the Paramisara literary club, which brings together Romani writers. The club is part of Slovo 21’s efforts to support the flourishing of the Romani language and the original work of authors, who are given the opportunity to gather inspiration as well as useful skills.
Success for adaptation-integration courses! Most participants praised their quality
The vast majority of graduates rate the "Welcome to the Czech Republic" adaptation and integration courses as beneficial, clear, and well-organized. This was shown by a survey involving 626 participants throughout last year. A record 97% of foreigners were satisfied with the quality of the instruction. More than a third would have signed up for the course even if it were not mandatory.
"Romani children are experiencing the same frustration my grandfather felt a hundred years ago." – With Jana Horváthová on the need to talk about the Romani experience
Jana Horváthová, a historian, ethnographer, and director of the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno, has traveled a long road toward self-acceptance. Her famous family tradition led her to take an interest in both her own family history and the history of all Roma. In this interview, she opens up about her own upbringing and calls for a change in how we learn about Romani history.
The exhibition Journey / Traces of Stories begins: Children fleeing the war in Ukraine share their fates
They had only a few minutes to pack their essentials and leave their homes. The exhibition Journey / Traces of Stories, which opens on January 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Artivist Lab in Kampus Hybernská, shares the stories of Ukrainian children fleeing the war through 26 pairs of authentic shoes and audio recordings.