GROOTS


	CZECH REPUBLIC
	NETWORK OF MOTHER CENTERS IN CZECH REPUBLIC The First Mother Center in the Czech Republic opened in 1992 after a group of Czech women leaders participated in an exchange visit and learned of the German Mother Center's self-help movement and their basic organizing principles. In less than ten years, 100 Mother Centers have arisen in villages and towns across the Czech Republic. What are Mother Centers? What do Mother Centers Offer? Main tasks of CZECH MOTHER CENTERS' NETWORK Contact WHAT ARE MOTHER CENTERS? Mother Centers are founded on the principle of family self-support, and in most cases have been established by mothers on maternity leave, who share the leadership and create the program at the same time. The Centers enable mothers to come out of the isolation of their daily care duties at home and come into a supportive community center, open to all generations. MCs are places where children are welcome. There is a natural company of children of similar ages. A child can also observe his/her mother in another role, different from her role at home. MCs build women's confidence by creating a place for new friendships and new sharing of experiences. Mother Centers also create a structure and platform for families to identify and voice their interests and problems and to engage in active advocacy for family and community issues. What do Mother Centers Offer? Help Through Self-Support Mutual Counseling Exchange of Experiences Giving and Receiving Mutual Help Lay Advice Projects for Mothers, Parents, and Children Creative Educational Athletic Problem and Conflict Prevention Mother Centers provide for a safe space to spend time. For those who might end up in troublesome situations, counseling and role models are readily available at MCs. In the MC, families and individuals learn how to better use their free time, reducing chances for crime. Inclusivity Mother Centers are open to all races, social classes, refugees, and others. They teach tolerance and help to prevent xenophobia. MCs offer club meetings for groups of people who are equally different. Self-Help Civic Participation Creating a Mother Center requires initiators to register, identify and organize space, and raise funds. The building of a self-governing body of MCs, the setting up of a program, and community outreach are the next steps. To do this, women must know the laws, establish close contact with local councils, and have a strong interest in local affairs. Co-operation The Mother Centers maintain relations with non-profit organizations and state services with similar aims. They are also in correspondence with partner organizations abroad. MAIN TASKS OF CZECH MOTHER CENTERS' NETWORK To support the rapid, word of mouth growth of locally initiated Mother Centers, a national network has emerged to offer: Support And Methodological Guidance For Local Leaders In Forming New Mother Centers -->Linkages to Existing Mother Centers through an annual conference for sharing and mutual support documentation of common projects and establishment of an archive documenting the activities of individual Mother Centers organizing projects on a national scale -->Access And Connectedness To Network And Organizations Outside Czech Republic For Approaches, Contacts, And Resources Through: cooperation with governing bodies cooperation with partner organizations abroad cooperation with GROOTS and with the UN Huairou Commission fund raising For more visit: Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Contact: Work Group Prague Mothers for Mother Centers MC YMCA RUT Kolinska Na Porici #12 Praha 1 Czech Republic Tel: 420-2-248-73238 Fax: 420-2-248-75402 http://www.materskacentra.cz http://www.materskacentra.cz/spoluor/spoluor.htm To reach Rut Kolinska: Siroka 15, 11000 Prague 1 Czech Republic Tel: 420-2-231-6407 Fax: 420-2-248-75402 ymcapraha@volny.ca Back to Top