News
Open Society Fund Prague is a Czech foundation with a 30-year history. Our mission is to nurture democracy in the Czech Republic. We support and educate civil society and encourage the state to develop into a place where everyone has equal chances and participates in various activities in their surroundings. We open up sensitive and neglected topics and together with donors we seek trailblazers who will carry them forward. Over the last 30 years, we have supported more than 10,000 projects done by Czech non-profit organizations and individuals with more than 2 billion Czech crowns.
(English) PragueHacks proved potential of Open Data
Once I had a unique opportunity to talk with Andrew Stott, the former UK Government Director of Transparency & Digital Engagement. I asked him ‘what is the best way to convince the public institutions to open up their data and to…
(English) Open Data Guidelines in the Czech Republic
In the middle of April, the pilot version of the Czech National Open Data Catalogue was launched. After two years of waiting, Czech state institutions and local municipalities now have their own space where they can put their own open…
Czech nonprofits and parents sign open letter rejecting law’s definition of mental disability
Representatives of nonprofit organizations and members of the informal Parents for Inclusion (Rodiče za inkluzi) alliance sent an open letter on Friday, 6 February to Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka about an amendment to the Schools Act that is currently…
Do you want to study at Central European University?
We are pleased to invite you to an information meeting in Prague about Central European University (accredited in the USA and Hungary, based in Budapest). The representative of the Student Recruitment Office will be joined by Serge Sych, alumnus of…
Open Internet advocates discussed free expression and effective activism
Advocacy & Internet Summer School brought together a diverse group of activists and researchers from 24 countries to discuss the latest threats and opportunities of Internet freedom. The week-long intensive course hosted by Central European University in Budapest offered many…
Call to the Government of Hungary – Stop intimidating civil society!
Since its re-election in April 2014, the government of Viktor Orbán began a campaign compromising the credibility of Hungarian NGOs and tries to gain control over the funding provided to civic sector independently from Hungarian government by Norway, Iceland and…
(English) A Deeper Look at Europe’s Election Results
Across Europe, one in three voters chose protest parties and anti-establishment candidates in last month’s European Parliament elections. Populists did well in both creditor and debtor countries, showing that protest parties are thriving even where economic conditions are not so…
Open Data: Smarter State and Better Services
Open data can benefit the public administration, business and citizens alike. Freelyaccessible structured data contribute to greater transparency of public administration, empower citizens to make informed choices and bring new business opportunities. For those reasons, the British Embassy in Prague,…
Europe needs a Roma working class
Roma represent more than 20% of new entrants into the labour force in the European Union's newest member states but their living conditions have actually deteriorated since many of them became EU citizens A girl in a Roma camp in…
Roma in Political Life: Czech Republic—Dependency and Political Development
How can the Czech Republic’s Roma—a minority people whom political leaders have repeatedly demonized in order to win votes by appealing to popular prejudices—ever assume their rightful place in Czech society without acquiring and wielding a modicum of political leverage?…