What emotions do people experience when they find themselves in a foreign country as refugees? What do students like about Czech culture? What do they like about other cultures? Why do people choose to migrate? We discuss pupils' opinions on these questions and the broader context in schools across the country.
• A class of students, two lecturers, two hours, and the topic of refugees: this is the foundation of our Hello Czech Republic workshop.
• We organize discussions for students for 2nd stage students of primary schools and high school students.
• We prepare original interactive activities that engage students in the topic of migration.
• Our goal is to guide students toward greater tolerance and empathy for others.
Why do we talk about migration in schools?
There is a significant amount of misinformation about migration in the Czech Republic. Over the past three years, tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have entered Czech schools, presenting challenges in their integration into education and school communities. That’s why we came up with a concept of two-hour discussion that introduces teenagers to the reasons why people flee their home countries, in order to gain a greater understanding of their Ukrainian classmates. And at the same time, they learn about other facts that will help them form their own opinions.
How does it work?
The Hello Czech Republic discussion is designed for students in the second stage of elementary schools and students of high schools, and can last between 2 to 4 hours, depending on prior agreement. The details must be arranged with the school or teacher in advance so that the program is tailored to the students and their class size. In general, we organize discussions for 20–30 students, i.e. one class. The session is led by two trained lecturers who adjust the activities based on the students' age and the current atmosphere in the classroom.
How do students evaluate the workshop?
In 2024, nearly 900 students participated in the workshop, and they were most intrigued by information about migrant admissions. For instance, how many people apply for asylum and how many actually receive it.
In their own words, they found the topic "overwhelmingly stressful" or said they "never want to migrate themselves." The workshops are conducted in a kind manner, and there is even room for humor. For example, one student last year asked, "What is an emigrant? Is it an electronic migrant?" For other participants, the most interesting thing was just talking about the topic of migration with their classmates who have direct experience of it.
Would you like a workshop at your school?
Contact us at tereza.langrova@slovo21.cz. The lecturer fees and travel expenses are covered by the project, so the school does not bear any financial costs.
Hello Czech Republic workshops are part of the project Support for Ukrainian Refugees in the Czech Republic 2025, funded by UNHCR.
