News

Cooperation of AmCham and NGOs

As part of AmCham CSR activities, 3 selected NGOs (CEDU, Uličník and Čas Robinsonů) have been invited to share their thoughts.

Čas Robinsonů- civic initiative which brings a new approach to domestic violence.

We are greatly delighted and honored to invite you to become our partner in our project. It's long-term goal is to lower our sad statistics, concerning the victims and aftereffects of domestic violence.

- 38% of Czech population has some experience with domestic violence; in comparison, 25% is the number for Great Britain or USA

- domestic violence costs our country, and therefore all of us, billions of korunas annualy, including medical tratment and sick leave

- businesses in the Czech Republic lose millions of korunas annualy due to the impact of domestic violence – victims are less productive than general population, they seek medical care more often, suffer from psychological problems, and change jobs more often

Čas Robinsonů believes that DV is a collective problem where decent people can make a difference in public's perception of DV and, at the same time, help many not only to get out of that type of situation but most of all, to learn how to avoid it.

The first step of our initiative is to publish a brilliant novel „Čas Robinsonů“ (in English - „A Time to Cast Off“) by       Pavlina O´Toole which not only shows the dynamics of abusive relationships, but also shows a way out. A great psychologist, Martina Venglářová PhD. called the book „a novel, which could become a textbook on domestic violence.“

The second step is to start a website with a large chat forum which is being prepared at this time. One of the big problems with domestic violence is that the victims are often socially isolated from others and they are shy to talk about their problems.  Anonymity  on the web should help them with these obstacles.

The next step is a production of Flash mob called „Jump into bed with us“ which will attract viewers to the problem in a positive and unique way and we believe that it will not only reach out to them but it will help them to react more conscructively in their difficult life situations.

The whole campaign offers it's partners many interresting experiences and benefits, including a membership in „Klub Času Robinsonů“. Details about the club and the project can be viewed at www.casrobinsonu.cz.

We will be happy to answer all of your questions either via e-mail or in person. Additional information will be send to you per request.

Thank you for your attention and we are looking forward to our future cooperation!

Best Regards from Čas Robinsonů,

Jana Smetánková, Prague ( phone +420 951 989, e-mail: jana.smetankova@casrobinsonu.cz)

Pavlína O´Toole, Kansas City (phone 1-816-982-9040, e-mail: pavlina.otoole@casrobinsonu.cz)

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The Center for Democracy in Education 

The Center for Democracy in Education (CEDU) is the first Czech organization with the mission to develop and support the civic education in the environment of Czech primary and secondary schools. CEDU aims to be the main hub for systematic and sustainable cooperation and discussion of non-governmental, governmental, academic and corporate institutions in the area of democratic education and responsible citizenship.

Our projects are focused on support for teachers regarding the development of self-government procedures, especially school councils. The main goals are to increase the quality of democracy and citizenship education, and to support the development of the educational systems in the areas of democracy and self-government at schools. CEDU also contributes to the formation of the educational policies in the Czech Republic by positive lobbying in governmental institutions.

The CEDU´s approach, activities and projects are based on the field and long-term experience with teaching in Czech schools. We receive very valuable inspiration and information also from our partner schools and foreign organizations. Our target groups are mostly pupils and students at primary, secondary and high schools, university students of the educational disciplines, teachers, decision and policy makers, representatives of the public administration and parents.

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Uličník 

Uličník is a platform for those who share their common interest in high quality life in the place where they live, work or just relax. Uličník works with a concept of creative placemaking and tries to promote civic engagement related to public spaces aiming at participation of volunteers, local initiatives, municipalities and private sector. The idea of Uličník is to develop positive communication towards local authorities, to stimulate residents to carry out their own initiatives and to strengthen their ownership of the place that is of importance to them. If public spaces should be really „public“ we all should take responsibility for it in a certain way. 

We are looking for partners for our projects called “Bezobrubník” (adoption of barrier-free fixing of high curbs in the streets following the example of adopting cute animal in the zoo, www.bezobrubnik.cz) and “Smart Radar” (speed camera lottery for those who obey speed limits in problematic areas).