Strengthening the capacity of integration centres to support migrant children in Czech Republic

Project goal:

The aim of the project was to strengthen the capacity of the Centre for Foreigners in the Ústí nad Labem Region (one of the country’s 14 regional migrant integration centres) to provide support specifically targeted at refugee children and their families. 

The project focused primarily on identifying and addressing a wide range of needs of children and young people aged 15–24, for whom appropriate services had so far been lacking within the activities of the Centre for Foreigners. 

Who benefits:  

• People displaced from Ukraine granted temporary protection: children, adolescents, and young adults aged 18–25; persons at risk of gender-based violence.
• Local NGOs and providers of specialised services benefit financially as service contractors.
• Local institutions (schools, public authorities): support through community interpreting eliminates language barriers. 

How it works:  

Within the project, a wide range of activities was implemented that had previously been difficult to access or entirely unavailable to young foreigners and their families in the region. The implementation team consisted largely of people displaced from Ukraine who were employed in the roles of community interpreters, a psychologist, a social worker and a speech therapist. 

Activities at regional branches: 

Child Friendly Spaces were established at four branches of the Centre for Foreigners in the region (in municipalities with the highest numbers of holders of temporary protection). These spaces serve as facilities for children whose parents are engaged in other activities (Czech language courses; psychological counselling). 

For preschool children, Ukrainian instructors organised developmental activities and a Ukrainian speech therapist was available. 

For primary school children, summer camps focused on maintaining contact with the Czech language were organised during the holidays. 

Preparatory courses in Czech and mathematics for secondary school entrance examinations, available to refugee pupils in the final year of primary school, addressed the lack of financially accessible courses. 

Youth clubs were also established within the project. Their aim was to offer young refugees a space for meeting, building relationships, informal education, and meaningful use of free time. The youth club programme was created in a participatory way based on the wishes and initiatives of the participants. Within the youth club environment, Youth Representatives gradually emerged – young people with successful integration outcomes who began to act as peer supporters and role models of successful integration for other young refugees. 

Psychological support was available to children, youth and parents. Individual consultations focused on trauma work and the development and support of children. Group workshops focused on strengthening participants’ self-confidence and developing soft skills. 

Within the project, cooperation was established with and provided financial support to regional NGOs and providers of specialised services that had previously been inaccessible to foreigners due to limited capacity or language barriers (e.g., services for persons with autism spectrum disorder). 

As part of the project, outreach social work was carried out primarily in collective accommodation facilities. Its aim was to identify families at risk of social exclusion, assist with finding standard housing, and support the inclusion of children in the education system.