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Migration

www.migrationonline.cz 

Migration Online is a specialised website focusing on migration issues in Central and Eastern Europe. Its aim is to promote dialogue and to present international comparisons in a region where many different forms of migration take place. It analyses various migration policies and the way they enable different groups of foreigners to come, work, and settle in the region or return back home. Since 2004 the English version of migrationonline.cz has offered both original and republished articles, interviews and reports about migration. The website is accessed by experts, academics, the media, state and public administrators, NGOs and the wider public. See more here: www.migrationonline.cz/

The website was founded with the generous support of the Open Society Fund Prague.

Project team: Marie Jelínková, Tereza Blahoutová, Lucie Trlifajová, Denisa Zobačová



Migration to the Centre

The international project Migration to the Centre examines how acquis communautaire and other EU instruments influence migration and integration policies and practice in the V4 region (CZ, SK, PL, HU, SL). It brings international comparisons to the situation in each country, promotes cooperation and networking between experts and stakeholders and provides space for migrants´ voice. The project aims to raise awareness and build capacities for participation on the EU policies of migration and integration and their implementation.

The project is covering following topics that are considered crucial within the migration and integration process:

  • Work and the residence permits
  • Family reunification
  • Study / training in EU

The project aims to create an active network of Central European partners focused on migration and integration, to draw attention of policy makers, experts and wider public to similarities and differences in the implementation of EU migration legislation and contribute to the cultivation of the migration debate and create conditions for inclusion of migrants to the debate.

Project partners:

Duration of the project: 9/2012 - 2/2014

The project has been generously supported by the European Commission The "Europe for citizens" programme.

Project coordinator: Anna Dušková
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: media@mkc.cz



Integration of Labour Migrants in the Czech Republic: Reinforcing the role of the Czech towns

Objectives of the Project:
  • The project aims to empower the role of the Czech cities in the area of integration of migrants in the Czech labour market
  • The core of the project lies in education of the Czech local infrastructures and state emplyees and their mobilization with respect toa dissatisfactory situation of labour migrants in the Czech Republic
Specific objectives of the project are:
  • To share experience in regards to local integration policies between European and Czech cities
  • Mutual learning between the Czech and other European cities (Berlin, Dresden, Brussels) and promotion of best practisess in regarding local integration policies
  • To build a network in support of migrants's integration and promoting cooperation between Prague and other European cities
  • To foster efficient communication and co-operation between local infrastructure and economically active foreigners in these cities
  • To support migrants' orientation in the Czech Republic's labour market
  • " To increrase the qualification of local and state administration in the field of migrants' integration in the labour market
Activities of the project:
  • Research between the foreign employees and their employers in Czech republic about the current practise in employment of foreigners
  • Simulation workshops for office servants from Prague city districts, Prague City Hall and regional authorities in cooperation with our German partner organisation (Humanity in Action)
  • Integration workshops for office servants of local governments, municipalities and the state administration from regions
  • Integration workshops for office servants from Prague city districts, Prague City Hall and regional authorities in cooperation with our German partner organisation (Bertelsmann Stiftung)
  • Study visit of Czech office servants and representatives from the local governments and municipalites in Berlin, Brussels and Dresden focused on getting in touch with successful local projects for integration of citizens on the labour market
  • Creation fo help-desk for employees from local and state administration focused on the integration of foreigners
  • Creation of the template of integration manual for Czech cities

As an additional value of the project we see the capacity to prevent negative social effects related to unemployment and insufficient integration of foreigners.

Our project partners: CBAI (Centre Bruxellois d´Action Interculturelle asbl), Humanity in Action Deutchland e.V., Landeshauptstadt Dresden, Integrations- und Ausländerbeauftragte a Rejs e.V..

Duration of the project: 5/2012 - 4/2015

This project, CZ.1.04/5.1.01/77.00030, is supported by the European Social Fund in the Czech Republic via the OP LZZ program.

Project coordinator: Jan Dítko
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: integrace@mkc.cz



Foreign workers in the labour market

The project focuses on the opening of a public debate and the resolution of the taboo topic of occupational safety of foreigners (job-related injuries, occupational diseases), as well as the reinforcement of equal rights for foreigners at the labour market, by developing international cooperation in this area via a thematic network. Another aim is the improvement of structural tools leading towards better protection of foreign workers. The project finds inspiration abroad, with our partners in the United Kingdom and Germany, where they have experience with illegal employment of foreign workers, but they can also appreciate Czech input.

Therefore, Czech non-profit organisations have joined forces with foreign partners and they hope to create a functional thematic network. Via this network they would like to address and include key players and experts from the Czech Republic as well as other EU countries, in an effort to improve the condition of foreigners in the labour market. For this reason, a partnership has been created with the German Caritasverband für die Diezöse Osnabrück and the British Anti-Slavery International, respected organisations with ample experience concerning foreign employment and occupational safety of foreigners.

Occupational safety of foreigners is a relatively neglected topic in the Czech Republic; therefore it will be presented to the public through a specialised publication, case studies from fieldwork, an Internet platform, or a handbook for foreigners and helping professions. Public debates, international internships, seminars and international conferences will be just as important. The partnered organisations hope to create space suitable for social discussion of equal rights for foreigners. The results of this joint initiative of the non-profit sector will be made available to state administration, politicians, unions and other entities that can influence Czech legislation and migration policy. Another part of the project will be the promotion of foreigners' individual rights in the labour market with the help of experience gain abroad. A special emphasis will be placed on female foreigners, who face conditions even worse than men.

Partners:

Duration of the project: 10/2012 - 9/2014

This project is supported by the European Social Fund in the Czech Republic via the OP LZZ program.



RACE in Europe (Response against Criminal Exploitation)

The project focuses on trafficking into forced criminal activity and forced begging, forms of trafficking that currently receive little attention or transnational co-operation. Although being highly vulnerable, children and adults trafficked for these purposes are often regarded as perpetrators of crime rather than as victims. The project provides practitioners, policy-makers and decision-makers with a more informed knowledge base with which to develop appropriate and victim-centred strategies for tackling trafficking for forced criminal activities and begging, in relation to prevention, protection and enforcement. This international project is coordinated by Anti-Slavery International.

Duration of the project: 8/2012 - 8/2014

The project is financed by the European Commission.

Project participant: Marie Jelínková
Tel: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: migrace@mkc.cz



The "New Alien Act" Project

The project focuses on the sustainability and improvement of immigrants rights. The process of approval of the New Alien Act in the Czech Republic started in the summer of 2011. The project uses the unique possibility to influence the final outcome. Aiming to establish long-term cooperation, the project team (consisting of people from three migrant NGOs) will seek to find out about the positions of academic institutions and business sector towards (a) the Alien Act and its implementation and (b) the New Alien Act that is being prepared. Secondly, common key issues on (current and new) Alien Act among these three sectors will be identified. Thirdly, the project will initiate several meetings with key politicians and policy-makers to inform them about these findings. Furthermore, other channels, such as comments on legislative proposals, policy briefs, publicity of the topic in the etc. will be used to influence the new legislation.

Duration of the project: 10/2011 - 4/2012

Coordinator of the project in the Czech Republic: Marie Jelínková
Tel: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: migrace@mkc.cz



Media4us

European project "Media for us too!" aims to enhance the general public's perception on migration and migrants. In the framework of the project, journalist trainings of migrants will be realised and a new multimedia strategy will be developed. A print attachment to a national free newspaper will be published in 8 European countries on the same day.

Aktivity projektu:
  • Media training of young migrants from third countries (Programme of the training)
  • Photo competition "Coctail of Cultures“
  • Production of multimedia outputs by young migrants (articles, photos, audio, video)
  • Publishing a specialised insert of free newspaper METRO in November 2012
  • International conference on 4-5 December 2012 in Prague
  • Project website www.media4us.cz

The project is realised in cooperation with organisations from seven European countries. We believe that thanks to its broad territorial scope as well as project activities, we will encourage immigrants to participate in the host societies and to contribute to the discussion about cultural diversity in the European Union.

Duration of the project: 9/2011 - 3/2013

The project is supported by the European Integration Fund and Embassy of the United States.

Coordinator of the project in the Czech Republic: Tereza Blahoutová
Tel: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: seminars@mkc.cz

Media4Me

The European project 'Media4Me' is a partnerhip project of Multicultural Centre Prague. Its main aim is social integration of migrants and greater intecultural dialog within community. The project aims at supporting a use of social media among local organisations and members of the community, so that they can present their activities better and thus to contribute to greater social integration.

Activities of the project:
  • Research on social integration in two neighbourhoods in Prague.
  • Use of the project methodology 'Social Media Game' to support community dialog and to strenghten integration within community.
  • Training for stakeholders.
  • National seminars.
  • International conference.

Duration of the project: 2/2011 - 3/2013

The project is supported by the European Commission.

Coordinator of the project in the Czech Republic: Denisa Udžanová
Tel: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: mise@mkc.cz

Visa Policy of the Czech Republic and the European Union towards the Eastern Partnership Countries and the Ways of its Improvement

The project goal is to analyse the perception of visa policy of the Czech Republic and EU in the Eastern partnership countries and to evaluate the Czech visa policy in the context of migration situation in each of the countries. Further, the project compares Czech visa policy with Poland, Sweden and Germany.

The project outcome is a scientific study, which will include recommendation for the visa policy that would reflect the situation in the countries of origin as well as national interest of the Czech Republic and that would contribute to the amelioration of the image of the Czech Republic in the Eastern partnership countries.

Duration of the project: 6/2011 - 1/2012

Visa Policy of the Czech Republic and the European Union towards the Eastern Partnership Countries and the Ways of its Improvement is a Scientific project conducted by the Association for International Affairs in cooperation with the Multicultural Centre Prague.

Coordinator of the project in the Czech Republic: Lucie Trlifajová
Tel: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: visawatch@mkc.cz

The System of Immigrant Work Controls in the Czech Republic: Inspiration needed

This project analyzes immigration and labor standards for immigrant workers in the Czech Republic. Its aim is to provide information about these issues to both experts as well as wider public. Firstly, the project covers articles on the system of labor controls of immigrants in the Czech Republic and in the United States. Secondly, public debates on the system of migrant labor controls, along with a presentation of an art exhibition of migrant life stories through photographs, are organized. Lastly, this project presents a brief analysis with a summary of suggestions on how the system of immigrant work controls should be changed to improve immigrant’s rights and work conditions.

Duration of the project: March 2011 - December 2011

Coordinator of the project: Marie Jelínková
Tel: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: migrace@mkc.cz

MIPEX III (The Migrant Integration Policy Index)

MIPEX III is an international study produced by British Council and The Migration Policy Group. The study measures and compares integration policies in all European Union Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, Canada and the USA.

The Multicultural Centre Prague and the People in Need Foundation are the Czech partners of the MIPEX project. Their role is primarily in fostering MIPEX study results in the Czech context. The Multicultural Centre Prague also participated in the MIPEX III research.

The MIPEX III is produced as part of the project Outcomes for Policy Change, co-financed by the European Fund for Integration of Third-Country National

Duration of the project: 1/2010 - 6/2011

Coordinator of the project: Lucie Trlifajová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: visawatch@mkc.cz

FLEXI-IN-SECURITY

The European project 'FLEXI-IN-SECURITY' is a project of Multicultural Center Prague and four partner organizations from Belgium, Germany, Poland and Sweden. The project's title is a reference to the concept of flexicurity, which the European Commission promotes as an answer to the EU's dilemma of "how to maintain and improve competitiveness whilst preserving the European social model." The FLEXI-IN-SECURITY project introduces four interrelated modules that explain and illustrate the current situation of migrant workers and the practice of human and social rights in selected EU countries.

Activities of the project:
  • International comparative research and informational portal
  • Publication of documentary reports and photography
  • Exhibition of documentary photography focusing on the life of migrants in European cities in time of economic crisis
  • International konference, discussions, seminars and education training
Partners:
  • Centre Bruxellois d'Action Interculturelle (Belgium)
  • Foundation Nowa Amerika (Poland)
  • Immigrant institute (Sweden)
  • Rejs e.V. (Germany)

Duration of the project: 4/2010 - 7/2011

The project is supported by the European Commission, the European Cultural Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the International Visegrad Fund and the Trust for Civil Society in Central & Eastern Europe.

Coordinator of project in the Czech Republic: Barbora Loudová Stralczynská
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: czechmade@mkc.cz



European Web Site on Integration

The European project 'European Web Site on Integration' is a partnership project of Multicultural Center Prague. The main activity is to add information focusing on the integration of immigrants on the website integration.eu. The texts deal with examples of good practice, scholar articles about integration, links and funding opportunities. The website provides information about integration of immigrants from all member states of EU.

Duration of the I. Phase of the project: 3/2010 - 10/2010
Duration of the II. Phase of the project: 11/2010 - 10/2011

The project is supported by the European Commission.

Coordinator of project in the Czech Republic: Barbora Tošnerová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: mise@mkc.cz



Promoting Sustainable Policies for Integration (PROSINT)

The European project 'Promoting Sustainable Policies for Integration' is a partnership project of Multicultural Center Prague. The project is focused on the research in the area of integration policy of the Czech Republic, in particular on: 1 Integration measures at national level, 2. Integration policy at local level (Case Study), 3. Integration of migrants on the labour market. The particular research reports will be used for the comparative study.

Duration of the project: 1/2010 - 6/2011

The project is supported by the European Commission.

Coordinator of project in the Czech Republic: Barbora Tošnerová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: mise@mkc.cz



Multicultural Europe in the Media

The European project 'Multicultural Europe in the Media' is a partnership project of Multicultural Center Prague. The project aims to improve media presentation of migration and minority issues. It is also focused on NGOs dealing with migration to improve their presentation in the media.

Activities of the project:
  • Research on existing media and integration projects at national level.
  • National training for journalists and NGOs.
  • Round tables.
  • International conference.

Duration of the project: January 2010 - June 2011

The project is supported by the European Commission.

Coordinator of project in the Czech Republic: Barbora Tošnerová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: mise@mkc.cz



Visawatch - what is the situation on Czech consulates and embassies?

The project about Czech visa policy focuses particularly on three countries - Ukraine, Vietnam and Mongolia. These countries represent important source countries of immigration to the Czech Republic; however local functioning of the Czech diplomatic missions is rather problematic.

The emphasis is on analysis and evaluation of the situation in the selected countries of origin, with the aim of increasing general awareness of the visa issue, to point to the main problems connected with visas and create a space for their consideration. Information about the issue of visa issuing will be presented on migraceonline.cz and eventually in the Czech media.

Activities of the project:
  • Reportages about the current situation in consulates and embassies in the selected countries.
  • Interviews with visa applicants, diplomatic mission employees, middlemen, etc.
  • Expert articles.
  • Blogs and commentaries.
  • Public debate and final conference.

Duration of the project: 9/2009 - 3/2011

The project is supported by the CEE Trust.

Coordinator of project in the Czech Republic: Lucie Trlifajová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: visawatch@mkc.cz



Bridge IT

This European project Bridge IT is a partnership project of Multicultural Center Prague. The aim of the project is raising awareness and exchange of good practises in the area of integration of immigrants through information technologies. The project is focused on 3 areas of integration - civil society, labour and education. The project has 25 partners from a whole Europe; the main coordinator is University of Barcelona.

Activities of the project:
  • Social network on the Internet - Bridge IT
  • Booklet of good practises of integration of immigrants through information technologies
  • Guideline how to integrate immigrants through information technologies
  • International seminars
  • National seminars
  • Final conference

Duration of the project: December 2008 - December 2010

The project is supported by European Commission.

Coordinator of project in the Czech Republic: Barbora Tošnerová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: mise@mkc.cz



Regularization as One of the Tools for the Fight against Irregular Migration

The project focuses on the problem of undocumented migration of foreigners from the third countries who work in the Czech Republic without a work permit or without residency permit. The aim of the project is to find innovative solutions to this serious problem which involves the whole society (and which includes: exploitation of foreigners; lowering of employments standards as a result of discriminatory lower cost of irregular work; fiscal losses of the state budget in taxes; and security hazard). The project will combine activities such as awareness raising campaigns, social and legal counselling and lobbing. Within the frame of international cooperation and on the basis of inspiration from other European countries, particularly from Spain and Portugal, the Czech partner seeks to use their experiences in the field of social inclusion of these socially excluded groups.

Duration of the project: 6/2009 - 5/2011

The project is financed from the European social fund through the Operational program "Human Resources and Employment" and the state budget of the CR.

Project partners:

Project coordinator: Marie Jelínková
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: migrace@mkc.cz



Migration Policy in Crisis

This project of the Multicultural Center Prague and the Counselling Centre for Citizenship, Civil and Human Rights is focused on labour migration in the Czech Republic. There are two different but complementary activities in this project. First, the project is dealing with the position of labour agencies on the Czech labour market. Second, the visa issuing process and access to information at Czech embassies and consular offices is monitored. The aim of the project is the evaluation of the role of all stakeholders involved in labour migration to the Czech Republic, especially labour agencies and Czech embassies abroad. Promotion of the project's outputs through public media is also an important part of the project realized in close cooperation with La Strada, another NGO working in this field.

Duration of the project: May - December 2009

The Project is supported by Open Society Fund.

Project coordinator: Tereza Saková
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: seminars@mkc.cz



Quality Integration through Quality Information

The project of the Multicultural Center Prague is focused on the issues of integration of migrants in the Czech Republic. The activities of the project involve awareness raising through publication of specialized articles and interviews and through organization of debates and expert seminars. Some outputs will be published in important Czech media.

You can find all outputs from the project on the migrationonline.cz website in the Integration section.

Duration of the project: April - December 2009

The Project is supported by the European Union.

Project coordinator: Barbora Tošnerová
Phone: (+420) 296 325 345
E-mail: mise@mkc.cz



CSO Development Effectiveness - FoRS' priority topic for the EU presidency

The Multicultural Center Prague (MKC Prague) as a partner organization is the coordinator of the Migration and Development working group within the Czech Forum for Development Co-operation (FoRS) project. FoRS, together with its partner organizations in the Czech Republic, the EU and other regions of the world, reflects on the effectiveness of its own development activities. With the unique opportunity presented by the Czech presidency of the EU, FoRS would like to contribute to the global process of assessing effectiveness, coordinated by the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness (www.cso-effectiveness.org). MKC Prague and the Migration and Development working group are interested in the flow of remittances from the Czech Republic to migrants' countries of origin. Together with the Czech Ministry of Finance, MKC Prague has organized a seminar on this topic: "Remittance Flows from the Czech Republic and their development impact". At this seminar international participants - representatives of NGOs and migrant communities, the state administration, the financial sector and academic institutions - discussed ways of enhancing the development potential of remittances sent from the Czech Republic. A study on this topic has also been written and will be presented at the final conference. Other topics discussed within this project include development education, good governance, and sustainable technologies for sustainable development.

The project is supported by the European Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The seminar on remittances was also supported by the Ministry of Finance and the IOM.

Project coordinator: Tereza Rejšková
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: rozvoj@mkc.cz



Czech Made? Against Double Standards and Exploitation of Migrants in the Czech Labour Market

The Multicultural Centre Prague has launched the project "Czech Made?" to raise public awareness about the exploitation of migrant workers in various sectors of the Czech economy. The label "Czech made" is commonly used to reassure consumers that products are of the highest quality. The question mark in the title of our project implies that apart from the quality of the products, there is also a difference in the quality of working conditions when comparing Czech to foreign labourer. Migrant workers are often denied fair working conditions and find themselves in situations when their fundamental human rights are violated and work conditions are not properly? maintained in many sectors of the Czech economy. The aim of the project is to stimulate public debate by means of six complementary activities (investigative research, an information portal, seminars, an exhibition, public debates and lobbying). The debate is supposed to lead to the formation of a political strategy which would allow the country to satisfy its need for foreign workers without putting the human and social rights of labour migrants at risk. A wide range of contributors, including representatives of NGOs, representatives of immigrant communities, employees of state ministries, politicians and representatives of the business community, will join the debate.

The central element of the project strategy is investigative research. Within its frame journalists have researched the current employment situation of foreigners in branches of the Czech economy which are characterised by a high percentage of foreign workers. Research results were published in the cultural weekly A2 and also on the information portal www.migrationonline.cz and will serve as a basis for the "Czech Made?" exhibition. With the help of specific life story examples the exhibition informs the public about the exploitation and therefore gives the foreigners an anonymous face. Next to public debates also six one-day training seminars took place for the employees of the departments for work, for employers of foreigners and for representatives of the foreign police. The seminars provided practical information and help with legal employment of foreigners without violating their dignity. Another important module of the project is lobbying politicians and representatives of state ministries based on legislative analyses, the field research of journalists and the information generated from the information portal. Combining research and journalistic methods, the project aims to achieve improvements in the working conditions of migrants in the Czech Republic.

Project partners:
Cultural weekly A2 (Sdružení redaktorů a spolupracovníků A2 kulturního týdeníku, o.s.)
Counselling Centre for Citizenship, Civil and Human Rights (Poradna pro občanství, občanská a lidská práva, o.s.)

The Project is supported by the European Commission and the European Cultural Foundation.

Project coordinator: Barbora Stralczynská
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: czechmade@mkc.cz



Bringing Awareness of Development Issues into Regions

Multicultural Centre Prague is the partner of Caritas Czech Republic in the project "Bringing Awareness of Development Issues into Regions". The project aims to raise the awareness of these issues mainly in two ways. First, originally created development education trainings for teachers of 11-15 year olds is offered in 8 regions of the Czech Republic and also Czech schools are encouraged to launch partnerships with schools in developing countries. Second, the project will inform general public through a number of articles about development issues published on the website www.migrationonline.cz, with a special focus on migration and development.

This project is co-financed by the European Union through the Actions to raise public awareness of development issues in Europe. Duration: 12/07 - 12/09

Project coordinator: Tereza Rejšková
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: rozvoj@mkc.cz



Regularization as one of the instruments used to combat illegal migration

The project Regularization as one of the instruments used to combat illegal migration aims to raise awareness of general public and opening public discussion about the issue of regularization of illegal migration as a working tool for combating problems directly attributed to illegal migration in Europe, particularly in the Czech society. The project focuses on strengthening rights, especially concerning access to health care and the right of family and private life of illegal migrants residing in the Czech Republic through proposing system and particular changes of migration policy and legislation.

Project partners
People in Need
Counselling Centre for Refugees
Counselling Centre for Citizenship, Civil and Human Rights



Project coordinator: Marie Jelínková
Phone: (+420) 296 325 346
E-mail: migrace@mkc.cz



Not About Us Without Us: Bringing the Discourse On Labour Migration to the Sending Regions

Working with a combination of well-publicised public and artistic events, the project "Not About Us Without Us: Bringing the Discourse On Labour Migration to the sending regions" seeks to stimulate a debate on labour migration in Eastern Slovakia, a marginalised region on the EU´s new outer border that is the most important foreign labour pool for the Czech labour market.

This will include the following events:
  • The photography exhibition "Work is elsewhere" from 20.9. - 14.10.2007 at Gallery of P.M. Bohun Gardens, Liptovsky Mikoláš (organised as part of the Margins Photography Conference www.theiprn.org)
  • The photography exhibition on labour migration "Work is elsewhere" in Košice in November
  • A conference on labour migration (in Košice in November 2007).
  • A series of blogs from migrants and experts (www.migrationonline.cz/blogs)
  • A series of articles on migrationonline.cz
  • Public debates (to take place in the library of MKC Prague)
Project partners:
Progresivné forum (Proforum)
Plotki
Dom fotografie

The project is funded by the European Cultural Foundation.

Project coordinator: Ian Cook
Phone: +420 296 325 346
E-mail: projects@mkc.cz



How many paths to Florenc? - Stimulating a Central European Debate on Labour Mobility

The exhibition How Many Paths to Florenc? will be realised as part of a larger project, by which the Multicultural Centre and its partner organisations aim to stimulate a public debate in labour mobility in Central Europe. Realised within the "European Year of Workers´ Mobility", the envisioned debate should point the public attention to potential benefits and costs of labour mobility and the existence of legal, cultural and economic obstacles.

Being the very core of the entire project, the exhibition and its accompanying materials (catalogue, virtual exhibition, DVD, articles for the internet portal www.migrationonline.cz) will contribute to the above-mentioned aims through the focus on the examples of 16 labour migrants, whose lives are linked through Prague's central bus station Florenc. We understand this crossing station in the heart of the enlarged European Union as a symbol for the meaning of "mobility" in a continent, which is characterised by enormous disparities in income and unemployment rates. This symbolic quality is stressed by the fact that Florenc is in the same time final destination and place of departure for labour migrants. Every day there are hundreds of buses arriving from Central and Eastern Europe's disadvantaged regions to supply the Czech capital's booming economy with commuters and temporary migrants. Since salaries in Prague are still way below the ones paid in Western Europe, many people from the Czech Republic use in the same time buses departing in Florenc to reach places of employment in Western Europe.

The photographers and journalists/ social participating in the project paired in teams of two and began their research by travelling with long-distance buses from Florenc. Their common task is to document the lives of mobile workers. The selection of persons to be portrayed was done in close collaberation with partners and contact persons to ensure that the selection of portrayed persons reflects the very different sides of labour mobility in today's Europe (in regard to factors such as: age, gender, country of origin, integration in social networks, length of stay, type of work …).

Photographers and writers focus in their work on the following three aspects of the phenomenon of mobility:

A. Forces that drive mobility
What is the motivation of people who decided to leave home for employment purposes? Do people have the choice to be mobile? How does the decision to be mobile affect the home environment? Does the price paid for this decision make up for the benefit?

B. Barriers to Mobility
What kind of legal, economic and cultural obstacles do mobile people encounter at home and in their new environment? How do they cope with these obstacles?

C. Mobility and Identity
Mobile people need to relate to two different social environments, the place of home and the place of employment. Often, the individual migrant's social status differs quite radically between these places. How do the labour migrants cope with the different environments? Which strategies do they use to remain connected with home?

The exhibition will open on Wednesday November 22, 2006 in the Old Hall of Prague´s Central Railway Station (next to Fantova Kavarna).

Partners:
  • Plotki rumours from around the bloc
  • FAMU (Department of Photography, Prague)
  • Ostrava University (Department of Social Geography and Regional Development/Faculty of Sciences
  • EURES (European Employment Services) Czech Republic
  • Counseling Centre for Citizenship/Civil and Human Rights, Prague


    • The project is supported by the "Year of Workers' Mobility" grant by the EU (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) and by the Czech-German Future Fund.

    Project coordinator: Jakob Hurrle
    Phone: +420 296 325 349
    E-mail: research@mkc.cz



    Workshop on migration in Central and Eastern Europe, 25 - 27 August 2005

    The Multicultural Center Prague and the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University in Prague held a three-day workshop entitled "Migration Processes in Central Eastern Europe." The objective was to bring together researchers and experts from academia and non-governmental organizations to discuss current migration patterns and related issues in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The workshop included debates about migration theories, presentations of empirically based research in the region as well as first-hand experience of NGO representatives working in the field of migration within the CEE region.

    This initiative was envisaged as the first step towards long-term cooperation of migration analysts and experts and creating an interdisciplinary network for dynamic dialogue. The Multicultural Center Prague, the chief coordinator, specializes in providing information and analyses of migration processes and policies in the Czech Republic and other countries in CEE and elsewhere. The website www.migraceonline.cz  will function as a platform for future cooperation. The workshop was organized with the generous support of the Open Society Fund Prague as a part of the East-East Program and UNHCR Czech Republic.

    The workshop's program is available at www.migrationonline.cz/workshop . Proceedings from the workshop will be published in March 2006.

    Project coordinators: Marek Čaněk and Eva Burgetová

    New Challenges in International Migration - two seminars about migration (2003-2004)

    This project was supported by the Open Society Fund's East-East program and aimed at establishing cooperation with Moldavia.

    Two seminars were organized as a part of the project - one in the Czech Republic and one in Moldavia - for experts, public administration officials, NGOs and other actors interested in asylum and migration policies. The project's first phase took place in November 2003 in the Czech Republic with the organization of a two-day seminar entitled "New Challenges in International Migration" and designed to provide participants a comprehensive overview of asylum and migration policies in the Czech Republic and Moldavia. The second phase took place in April 2004 in Moldavia where a four-day seminar was organized under the title "The Civil Society Initiative in the Managing of the Migration Flow" with representatives of Czech organizations active in the area of migration and foreigner issues. Both seminars served as information exchanges where both sides shared best practices as well as up-to-date information about problems. Participation of public officials should play a role in passing necessary amendments to relevant laws.

    The project took place as a part of the East-East program and was implemented by the Multicultural Center Prague in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM Prague).

    Project coordinator: Hana Kabeleová



    International Migration and the Czech Republic (2002)

    Research and the ensuing final report commissioned by the Open Society Fund Prague focused on ascertaining the current situation in the area of institutional assistance and regulation of international migration in the Czech Republic. The report, which was completed in 2002, proposes to implement a number of systemic changes in the area of international migration. The report is available from our library in the Czech language.

    Authors: Kateřina Březinová, Jan Černík and Zdeněk Uherek