Hello Czech Republic

What feelings do people experience when they find themselves in a foreign country as refugees? What do students like about Czech culture? What do they like about other cultures? Why do people decide to migrate? We discuss students' views on these questions and the broader context in schools across the country. 

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• One class of students, 2 facilitators, 2 hours, and the topic of being a refugee: that is the foundation of our Hello Czech Republic workshop.

• We organize these discussions for students in upper primary and secondary schools.

• We prepare original, interactive activities for students that draw them into the topic of migration.

• Our goal is to guide students toward greater tolerance and consideration for others.

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Why do we talk about migration in schools?

There is a great deal of misinformation circulating in the public sphere regarding migration in the Czech Republic. Over the past three years, tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have entered Czech schools, which brings challenges for their integration into the classroom and the school community. That is why we have developed a concept for a roughly two-hour discussion that introduces adolescents to the reasons why people decide to flee their home country, helping them gain a better understanding of their classmates from Ukraine. At the same time, they learn other facts that will help them form their own opinions.  

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How does it all work?

The Hello Czech Republic discussion is designed for upper primary and secondary school students and can last between 2 and 4 class periods, depending on the arrangement. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the details with the school or teacher in advance so that the program can be tailored to the students and their group size. In general, we hold sessions for 20–30 children, which is about one class. The program itself is led by two of our trained facilitators, who adapt their activities primarily to the age of the participants, but also to the current atmosphere in the classroom.

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How do students rate the workshop?

In 2024, nearly 900 students went through the workshop, and they were most interested in information about the reception of migrants—for example, how many people apply for asylum and how many actually receive it. In their own words, we learned that the whole process is "too stressful" or that they themselves "never want to migrate." The workshops are conducted in a kind manner, and there is also room for humor. One student, for instance, asked last year: "What is an emigrant? Is that an electronic migrant?" For other participants, the most interesting part was simply talking about the topic of migration with their classmates who have direct experience with it.

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Would you like to have the workshop at your school?

Get in touch with us at tereza.langrova@slovo21.cz. The facilitators' fees and travel expenses are covered by project funds, so the school does not contribute financially to the event.

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The Hello Czech Republic workshops are held as part of the Support for the Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic 2025 project, funded by the UNHCR.

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