On our tour through successful projects, we visited the organization TEREZA, which was one of the successful project promoters of the EEA and Norway Grants in the last period. Maybe you've met this organisation before.

In the small village Koleč there is hidden a remarkable building - the Koleč Castle. This small aristocratic residence was close to the removal from the Central Register of Cultural Heritage and complete demolition due to the long-term unsatisfactory condition. Thanks to the considerable effort and interest of several local patriots, the castle not only been saved and reconstructed, but there was also built a unique museum of beekeeping, which has a long tradition in village Koleč.

As part of our series on successful projects from the previous years of the EEA and Norway Grants, we would like to present you a project supported by the Norway Grants under the Let's Give Wo(men) a Chance Programme this time. This is a project called “First Aid for Persons at Risk / Affected by (Domestic) Violence”. The project was led by one of the longest-running non-governmental non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic the Bílý kruh bezpeční (hereinafter BKB), which has been long time involved in the assistance of victims of crime and domestic violence and provides them with professional and free assistance. Coincidentally, we visited the White Circle of Safety on 4 September 2019, exactly on the day of its 28th anniversary.

Not every secondary school can proudly say it has accomplished so many international projects and started cooperation with so many schools from abroad as Gymnázium Teplice. Thanks to the interest and enthusiasm of its employees and students this school has been doing well at it for a long time. Already 13 years ago this school has joined the EEA and Norway Grants for the first time. The gymnasium contacted first secondary schools in Norway in 2006. The gymnasium had established cooperation with these schools and the first two-sided visits of teachers and students had been realized. And in 2007, cooperation with the Icelandic school Menntaskólinn í Kópavogi begun and both scholls still closely cooperate.

The effects of mental illness on man’s life and his surroundings are shown in comics, which were prepared by the representatives of FOKUS České Budějovice in partnership with FOKUS Tábor in previous period of EEA and Norway Grants. To increase their knowledge of the topic, they elaborated real stories of their clients.

Injuries are still one of the most common causes of children’s morbidity and death. That is why the prevention of injuries together with prevention of long-term impact of chronic diseases in children was a priority of funding from Norway grants in the last few years. Except big investment projects, the support was given to awareness raising activities run by NGOs.

Where to get funding for reconstruction of the area? This issue was discussed by the management of psychiatric hospital in Červený Dvůr few years ago. The solution was found in Norway Grants. 

Jiná Káva in Beroun and Jedna Bedna in Prague are examples of places, which serve as training space for people returning to the labour market after going through mental health problems. On the other hand, customers visit them for a good coffee and homemade cakes or for handcrafted decorations made of glass and textile. People with mental health problems meet there naturally with others attracted by food or product offer and atmosphere. Implementation of these projects was supported by Norway grants.

Seminars for students and public, e-mail or personal counselling. These are some of the ways used by professionals to fight the stigma of mental disorders. Moreover, they help individuals with meant health problems seeking for help. Dozens of organizations like Lomikámen in Beroun and BONA in Prague are involved in these activities helping people with mental health disorders which were also funded from Norway grants during last three years.

Dozens of projects focused on an improvement of care for mentally ill patients were realized by NGOs and medical institutions throughout the Czech Republic during the last three years. These projects supported by Norway grants enabled a lot of meaningful activities to be carried out in the field of mental health such as the development of multidisciplinary teams taking care of mentally ill patients or informational campaigns raising awareness about mental health issues. There was also established cooperation among the hospital services and follow-up care provided mostly by NGOs such as FOKUS Opava. Norway grants thus prepared the ground for the psychiatric care reform, which followed and is currently being implemented.