People In Need (Czech Republic)

For "People In Need" in Ireland, see People in Need Trust.

People In Need
Formation	1992 in Prague, Czechoslovakia
Type	Non-profit NGO
Purpose/focus	Protecting human rights and providing human relief, development assistance, and social integration projects
Headquarters	Prague, Czech Republic
Website	www.clovekvtisni.cz

People in Need (PIN) (Czech: Člověk v tísni) is a Czech nonprofit, non-governmental organization that implements humanitarian relief and long term development projects in crisis regions all over the world, while working to defend human rights and democratic freedom.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia PIN runs social integration programs and is providing informative and educational activities.^[1] Certain significance is to promote democratic freedom and principles of human solidarity. Since its foundation in 1992 PIN has had a presence in almost 50 countries, and in 2010 alone, it has been active in 22 states.^[2] Currently PIN is one of the largest NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe.^[3]

People in Need is a member of Alliance 2015,^[4] Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS), EU Monitoring Centre (EUMC), Eurostep, CONCORD and VOICE. The organization has access to limited continual funding. The vast majority of revenue comes from individual projects. Among its donors are the Czech government, the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission, EuropeAid, the United States Agency for International Development, UN agencies, and people of the Czech Republic.^[5]

History

The organization was founded in 1992 by Šimon Pánek, a student activist during the Velvet Revolution, and by Jaromír Štětina, a war correspondent from conflict areas of former Soviet Union. The organization began its work as Nadace Lidových novin (The Lidové noviny Foundation, in English Popular Newspapers) and changed its name two years later to Nadace Člověk v tísni při České televizi (The People in Need Foundation under the auspices of Czech Television). In 1999 the organisation was given its current name, People in Need. Since 2009 Šimon Pánek is the director of PIN.

People in Need’s areas of activity (click for more info)

In order to deliver relief aid and development assistance, PIN cooperates on creating a tolerant, open society and mobilizes support of the public. Activities of PIN are most apparent during big humanitarian crisis like during the floods in the Czech Republic in 2002, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (Czech people and companies were donating more than 130 million CZK^[6]) or the 2007 Greek forest fires. In Africa and Asia PIN implements development projects providing basic human needs and education. In several countries like Cuba, Belarus, Ukraine or Moldova opposition movements or individuals who advocate democratic and liberal rights are supported by PIN. In the Czech Republic the organisation concentrates on several issues like the assistance of local Roma (Gypsies) living on the edge of the society, the organization of cultural activities (most prominent is the One World Film Festival), the distribution of information projects and the involvement in political activism.

In 2007 PIN established major projects in Afghanistan (irrigation, local schools), Sri Lanka (since the 2004 earthquake), Pakistan (reconstruction after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistani part of Kashmir), Angola and Ethiopia (construction of schools), Namibia (help for people suffering HIV/AIDS), Romania and Serbia (endorse groups of ethnic Czechs settled there for generations) and several other countries.^[7]

In 2008 two missions were implemented by PIN in Burma (relief and recovery operations after cyclone Nargis) and the DR Congo (support for victims of rape and sexual violence). One year later in 2009 the organization was involved in providing assistance after the devastating floods in the Czech Republic.

Major sources of revenue^[8] are the Czech government and Czech municipalities, followed by donations of companies. Individual donations peaked in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. PIN cooperates with ECHO, EuropeAid, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, IOM and is registered in USAID as an international private voluntary organization.

Structure of PIN

The work of People in Need focuses on four areas:

1. Relief and Development: provide assistance to victims of natural disasters and wars, plus work to decrease global poverty and support universal education.
2. Social Integration Process: help prevent poverty and social exclusion in the Czech Republic.
3. Informative and Educational Programs: extend Czech public knowledge of poverty, development cooperation, migration, human rights, reduction of natural prejudices, etc.
4. Human Rights: advocate for dissidents, opposition activists and development of the civil society in countries controlled by authoritarian regimes.

Programs and Projects

Humanitarian and Development Aid

People in Need provides assistance to victims of humanitarian crises in more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In 2010 it provided development aid in 19 countries worldwide.^[9] Regarding developing projects, the predominant aim of PIN is to ensure basic living needs like access to water, employment, education and health. Moreover, PIN maintains the creation of social programs as well as the development of local enterprises and backs the emergence of civil societies with democratic governance. All of these projects are implemented in a number of African countries (e.g. the DR of Congo, Ethiopia and Angola), in Asia (e.g. in Afghanistan and Cambodia) and in Europe (e.g. Romania). In early 2010, with a fund of more than 2 million Euros donated by the Czech companies and the general public, a humanitarian mission was set up in earthquake-affected Haiti.

‎

With its eleventh year in Afghanistan, PIN faces its biggest foreign mission while encompassing both a number of integrated projects and programs.

Afghan girl at school

During its local work, 82 schools were either newly built or refurbished. Furthermore, conditions for 50.000 male and female students and teachers were improved, and agricultural secondary schools in 17 provinces were supported.^[10]

The Czech Republic itself was affected by several recurring floods. When the floods hit the country in 1997, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2010, PIN sustained victims with required material and financial assistance donated by private persons, companies and institutions.^[11]

When the floods hit the Czech Republic, financial assistance was given to 1178 households in 62 villages. In addition, 1150 kits for disinfection, 3650 tools, 2,900 items of protective clothing and 2000 packages of insect repellent have been conveyed.^[9]

Social Integration Programs

Since 1999 PIN is regularly working to reduce poverty and social exclusion in the Czech Republic. It especially helps in poorer areas by providing social outreach projects, namely housing advice, advisory service for debtors, and limiting unemployment. In the following years, PIN has expanded its range of occupational and legal counseling as well as social service assistance, and is thus supplying children from poorer families by encouraging them to meaningful leisure time activities.

Social Integration Program in the Czech Republic

In summer 2006 the organization established a separate social integration department (in Czech: Programů sociální integrace, PSI). Aim of this department is to provide a comprehensive range of services for socially excluded individuals and families. Additionally, it is arranging advice to local councils (in towns and municipalities where most socially excluded populations are located).

Currently, 170 people are employed on the Social Integration Programs, including 130 social workers, counselors and educators on location in more than 60 cities and municipalities across the Czech Republic.

In 2004 PIN began to work in Roma (gypsy) settlements in the Slovak Republic. The organization seeks solutions to problems arising from extreme poverty, low level of education, unemployment and the apparently impenetrable barrier between Roma culture and mainstream society.^[9]

In Slovakia, assistance and counseling are provided in towns like Kezmarok, Roškovce, Spišský Hrhov, Krompachy, Hermanovce, Lipan, Zborov and Vranov nad Topľou, central Bratislava.

Social exclusion is closely linked to the problems of debt and the debt trap, which is associated with illegal loan-sharks and so-called quick loans offered by non-banking companies and even legitimate banking establishments. Hence, People in Need began negotiations with the Czech Banking Association in 2010, and reached an agreement regarding the elimination of unfair terms for credit agreements at all Czech banks.

Promotion of Human Rights

Major part of the work of PIN is to advocate dissidents, opposition activists and the development of a civil society in countries controlled by authoritarian regimes. In regard to its experience with communist regimes, PIN implements its programs in Cuba, Belarus, Moldova, Russia^[12] and Ukraine. Burma continues to be a country of concern. In 1997, PIN was able to contact the politician and democratic activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who consented to illustrate the problems of her country in the Czech Republic.

PIN’s primary focus is to support political prisoners (and their families), human rights defenders, and independent journalists. Therefore the organization encourages civil society initiatives. Families of political prisoners, from harshly repressive regimes such as Burma and Cuba, are provided with financial and humanitarian assistance as well as moral endorsement. A substantial part of the financial aid is provided from the "Friends of People in Need Fond".^[13]

The organization actively forwards its views on development in areas affected by war or human rights violation. People in Need is also organizing the biggest human rights film festival in Europe, held in the Czech Republic, called One World (Czech: Jeden Svět),^[14] which received honorable reference for its work on education of human rights by UNESCO in 2007.^[15] During the festival People in Need further presents the Homo Homini Award to a person who conduced a significant contribution towards the protection of human rights and non-violent promotion of democracy.

Winners of the Homo Homini Award

Past winners of the award include the following:^[16]

One World Festival/Jeden Svět 2011

• 1994: Sergei Kovalev
• 1997: Szeto Wah
• 1998: Ibrahim Rugova
• 1999: Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas
• 2000: Min Ko Naing
• 2001: Zackie Achmat
• 2002: Thích Huyền Quang, Thích Quảng Độ and Nguyen Van Ly
• 2003: Nataša Kandić
• 2004: Gheorghe Briceag
• 2005: Ales Bialatski and the Belarussian organisation Viasna
• 2006: Svetlana Gannushkina
• 2007: Su Su Nway, Phyu Phyu Thin, and Nilar Thein
• 2008: Liu Xiaobo
• 2009: Majid Tavakoli and Abdollah Momeni
• 2010: Azimzhan Askarov

Education and Outreach

Educational programs are focused on students and teachers of Czech primary and secondary schools, universities and other professional groups (such as employees at employment centers or the police). However, educational programs are implemented through presentation of documentary films accompanied by conversations (e.g. One World at schools), an information service about intercultural education and global development (variations program) for teachers, as well as the promotion of ties between institutions and NGOs working in the field of social exclusion (Social Integration Programs).

People in Need focuses on appropriate information to the Czech public, the government and the media. Long and short-term campaigns are implemented in sort of film screenings, discursive evenings, creative competitions and trips for journalists who address specific issues such as development cooperation (Rozvojovka, Stop child labor). Campaigns include public actions or projects involving the gathering of information and materials on the migration and foreigners living in the Czech Republic (Migration).

The organization publishes what is called the ‘Predator Index’,^[17] a ranking of companies that provide unguaranteed loans, with inappropriate terms and conditions for the debtor. The index is compiled on the basis of clarity of contract and conditions, the presence of default interest in excess of statutory regulations, the cost of a delayed payment in the form of penalties, the cost of the loan in the case of timely payment and the proper use of the arbitration clause.

Criticism

Since the end of the 1990s, People in Need maintained several projects in Chechnya and Ingushetia. In 2005, the Russian Weekly Argumenty i Fakty assigned the organization the support of Chechen separatists and terrorists^[18] PIN denied any involvement.^[19] In the same year Russia expelled the organization to work in the region. Two years later, in 2007, People in Need was allowed to come back and keep working in Chechnya and Ingushetia.^[20]

During a meeting of the ECOSOC in 2006, the Cuban ambassador accused PIN of being financed by the US conspiring against the government of Cuba and keeping in contact with Cuban emigrants who have a so-called terrorist past. After the vote, PIN was not recommended for consultative status with the ECOSOC.^[21][22][23]

PIN was moreover criticized by some Czech journalists for expressing too much political concern: after the Kosovo war, it supported Kosovar Albanians, but not the local Serbs. Similarly, after the South Ossetia war in 2008, relief from PIN was delivered only to Georgian civilians.^[24]

See also

• One World Film Festival

References

1. ^ PIN's About us webpage: [1].
2. ^ 2008 Annual Report: http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/download/pdf/184.pdf
3. ^ People in Need | Demas
4. ^ Alliance 2015 site
5. ^ Člověk v tísni | About People in Need
6. ^ People In Need
7. ^ See the 2007 Annual Report.
8. ^ See the 2007 Annual Report (page 40) for detailed breakdown or the reports from previous years: [2].
9. ^ ^{a b c} People In Need
10. ^ cs:Člověk v tísni#cite note-4
11. ^ Člověk v Tísni (People in Need), Prague - Czech Republic
12. ^ Člověk v tísni | Education
13. ^ People In Need
14. ^ Film Festival One World 2011
15. ^ UNESCO - University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights wins 2006 UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education
16. ^ "PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE HOMO HOMINI AWARD". People in Need. http://clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=549. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
17. ^ Člověk v tísni | Index predátorského úvěrování 3
18. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070812020339rn_1/gazeta.aif.ru/online/aif/1273/14_01 В наших стреляют автоматы ООН? (in Russian)
19. ^ http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2.php?id=317&idArt=24 (in Czech)
20. ^ http://zpravodajstvi.ecn.cz/index.stm?apc=zzvx1-2051359 (in Czech)
21. ^ http://biblioteca.rrp.upr.edu/LatCritCD/portfolioofprojects/acadcom/latcritngo/lcngoecosocmemo1_24_06.pdf Protocol from the meeting
22. ^ http://biblioteca.rrp.upr.edu/LatCritCD/portfolioofprojects/acadcom/latcritngo/lcngoecosocmemo1_24_06.pdf Decision not to recommend PIN
23. ^ http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/ECF9825D8494CC36C12571B2006A5BB8?OpenDocument ECOSOC meeting overview
24. ^ http://www.blisty.cz/art/42080.html Article in Britské listy: People in Tskhinvali are in need, where's People in Need? (in Czech)

External links

• People in Need (Official site)
  • People in Need (English version)
• Homo Homini Award