Foreigners in the Czech Republic

Caritas CR is active in the field of migration. It offers outpatient counseling and terrain forms to its clients. It is provided in six cities in the Czech Republic (Praha, Brno, České Budějovice, Litoměřice, Hradec Králové and Plzeň). Staff of Caritas CR also offer a variety of interesting integration activities, work in residential facilities for foreigners, offer direct assistance and humanitarian assistance to foreigners and support to victims of trafficking.

More than 500 thousand foreigners live in the Czech Republic including those who have chosen the Czech Republic as a place for a permanent or long-term stay, who found a job or do business here, who have sought protection from political persecution or the critical economic situation in their homeland.

The coordination of migration activities

Caritas CR is engaged in coordinating activities at the national level among other Czech Caritas. The task of the migration coordinator is to provide information services and to coordinate activities within the organization as well as partner caritas organizations. The coordinator organizes and manages the regular meetings of professional colleagues for migration and refugees within the Caritas and provides training in the field of migration and integration.

Caritas Czech Republic, represented by its migration coordinator, is a member of the Committee on the Rights of Foreigners of the Government Council for Human Rights with the right to vote.

The positive image of foreigners in the CR

The project financed by EIF – The Solidarity of migration flows and Caritas Czech Republic focuses on the integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic and will run until June 2011. The aim is to contribute to greater understanding of immigration issues among Czech people (public) by creating of a space for dialogue and by sharing a cultural and social life.

To increase awareness among the majority of migration motives, expectations and the reality of life for foreigners in the CR will be organized:

• conferences for professionals
• public debates in primary and secondary schools
• photo exhibition of portraits of foreigners living in the CR, including emotional experiences and information value
• media campaign
• meeting of foreign representatives with media, focusing on creating a realistic media image of foreigners
• events and meetings aimed to understand different cultures, to share experiences and knowledge about the Czech Republic

The project is designed as a partnership with the Diocesan Caritas Brno, Plzeň and České Budějovice.

Information helpline for citizens of the Republic of Mongolia

The information helpline is intended for citizens of Mongolia living and working in the Czech Republic. Caritas CR provides funding through various sources from January 2009. The line helps integration processes for citizens in the Republic of Mongolia and helps them to communicate with institutions and authorities.

The project is for the citizens of Mongolia and all others who work with the Mongols and come in contact with them. Operators speak Czech and Mongolian, provide information concerning the stay of foreigners in the Czech Republic, employment and related rights and obligations, health care, education, social services etc. The line can also help to contact Czech institutions that use or need an interpretation assistance when they are in contact with the citizens of Mongolia.

The line is open three times a week:

• Monday and Wednesday 9 to 11 and 14 to 16 hours – 733 67 66 67
• Saturday 10 to 12 and 14 to 16 hours – 720 545 357.

You can also contact us by e-mail mongol.info@charita.cz or Yahoo chat: mongol.info.

The service is provided anonymously and free of charge (only the price paid for the call).