Nejsme si cizí

Seeking safety, new opportunities, education, starting a family, or chasing dreams. These are likely the most common reasons why people from all over the world come to the Czech Republic. But who are the foreigners living in the Czech Republic, really? And what is it that we don't know about them? Get to know them with us through unbiased information and the stories of migrants who have found a new home here. After all, #WeAreNotForeigners!

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• A lack of information and communication between foreigners and the majority population leads to negative attitudes toward foreigners.
• We therefore want to provide high-quality and engaging information about foreigners, thereby debunking certain stereotypes and falsehoods.
• In collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, we will train future journalists on how to report on foreigners and migration in a high-quality and objective manner.
• We are also planning research on how both Czechs and foreigners perceive integration.
• Through an interactive exhibition, we will present the stories of refugees in four different cities.

‍ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OBJECTIVE INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGNERS? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE STORIES OF MIGRANTS?

STAY INFORMED!

www.nejsmesicizi.cz

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What exactly do we want?

Primarily, to bring foreigners closer to the majority population. Most of us only encounter them in statistics, news articles about security risks, or alarming posts about hordes of unadaptable people at the borders. We want to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between both groups, especially in the context of the migration crisis, which influences societal attitudes. High-quality information leads to an objective perception of foreigners and supports integration.

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Why do we need research?

While there are many studies on how well foreigners are integrating into Czech society, data on what Czechs themselves think about integration is lacking. There is a general consensus that the majority's attitude is supposedly dismissive, but there is no clarification as to what that actually means. There is also a lack of comparison between the attitudes of the majority and those of foreigners toward integration. What do both groups see similarly, and where do they differ? The research will provide answers that will serve society as a whole. It will also provide data to help work more effectively with both groups.

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Quality information for future journalists

As we outlined above, media coverage of migration and the integration of foreigners often fails to reflect the objective reality, which can lead to the general public being misinformed. This distorted information then contributes to negative attitudes toward foreigners in Czech society. In collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, we are preparing a series of 6 seminars for journalism students to help them report on this topic accurately and objectively in the future. Students will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience by writing an article about migrants.

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Informing third-country nationals

An integral part of the project is providing high-quality information to both the Czech majority and foreigners. We are therefore launching a Ukrainian version of the Nejsme si cizí website, featuring useful information for war refugees. On our TikTok, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook accounts, we will continue to provide updates in Ukrainian regarding legislative changes, education, and employment, as well as information about Czech culture, landmarks, and traditions.

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Little Shoes – A Path to Integration?

What is it like to have to set off for a completely foreign country at the age of seven? This traveling exhibition, which will visit at least four Czech cities, uses artifacts—little shoes—to share the fates and life stories of migrants from a child's perspective. The interactive exhibition will also feature the real stories of children who embarked on this journey filled with both uncertainty and hope.

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The Nejsme si cizí project is co-funded by the European Union.