The Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU) is a non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organization that has been supporting refugees and migrants in the Czech Republic since 1991. It is thus one of the oldest and largest organizations working with displaced people in the country and operates in five different locations. OPU was founded with the aim of helping migrants who have been uprooted or forced to flee due to political, ethnic, religious, social, racist, sexual, and/or gender-based reasons and have sought international protection in the Czech Republic.

OPU supports these individuals in many ways and treats them with respect and dignity. The organization offers free legal and social counselling, (cultural) educational programs for professionals and the general public as well as for refugees themselves. It also provides other activities to support the integration of refugees—such as language courses and more. As part of this, cultural education activities are regularly offered to provide refugees with tools for self-expression and to encourage them to actively participate in society. Self-representation plays a key role here, as does commitment with democracy and civic participation. OPU works to remove the barriers that prevent refugees from leading fulfilling lives in the Czech Republic. It is a human duty to help people in need and to support them.

We believe that supporting migrants and refugees in putting down new roots in a new environment enriches society as a whole. We believe that in a globalized world, diversity and cooperation offer a greater chance of success. We believe that positive examples can help overcome prejudice and hatred. We are convinced that this fosters the growth of an open society with opportunities for all.

…we see a great opportunity in expanding our educational programs further, especially when cultural forms of expression are used in civic education. We hope that participating in the project will provide fresh inspiration for our work in the Czech Republic and introduce us to new methodological approaches. Exchanging with partner organizations from across Europe who work with refugees in various fields enables us to reflect on our educational work, gain new impulses, and build new networks and alliances.