Projekt Šance – První preventivní a humanitární program pro komerčně sexuálně zneužívané děti a mládež, oběti obchodování s lidmi, které žijí v ČR v zapomenutí…

Projekt Šance – The first preventive and humanitarian programme for commercially sexually abused children and adolescents, victims of trafficking in humans, living in limbo... in the Czech Republic.

Projekt Šance – Das erste Vorbeugungs – und Humanitätsprogramm für kommerziell sexuell missbrauchte Kinder und Jugendliche, Opfer des Menschenhandels, die in Tschechischen Republik im Vergessen leben...

Projekt Šance, o. s. Ve Smečkách 28, 110 00 Praha 1 Tel.: 224 827 378 NONSTOP Linka Šance Tel./Fax/Zázn.: 222 211 797 www.sance.info * info@sance.info

For its outstanding implementation of the project WORKING THERAPEUTIC WORKSHOP at the Dům Šance for „Street ChildrenProjekt Šance, o. s. was awarded on 12 May 2008 the Thanks of the Committee of Good Will – the Olga Havel Foundation. This important recognition was granted by the Committee of Good Will – the Olga Havel Foundation during the gala announcement of the Olga Havel Award for the activities of Projekt Šance, which it has been monitoring for a long time.

For many “Street Children”, putting together ballpoint pens is the equivalent of a Mount Everest, yet one that they are capable of climbing at their level of mental and social development. Without the WORKING THERAPEUTIC WORKSHOP they would not have the chance to acquire the social habits necessary to take their place in the Czech working society. Their situation would leave them with no other way to support themselves than to sell their bodies or turn to theft. They would subsequently become a burden on taxpayers, alternating between the street and prison… The pilot operation and practice showed and confirmed to us that through working therapy it is probable that the “majority” of them would become taxpayers themselves, says László Sümegh, coordinator of Projekt Šance, o. s.

After a year of pilot operation there was a gala opening for the therapeutic workshop on 29 April 2008, attended by MUDr. Džamila Stehlíková, Minister of the Government of the Czech Republic for Human Rights and Minorities, and the godparents of the therapeutic workshop, the singers Petr Janda and Petr Muk and entertainer and moderator Petr Novotný.

On the day of the gala opening, Projekt Šance, o. s. received a letter from the leadership of the town hall of the Prague 5 metropolitan district, which without furnishing a reason terminated the lease contract on the building in which the Dům Šance project was operated and where the WORKING THERAPEUTIC WORKSHOP also operates. This means that there is the danger that both the projects will end up on the street.

Projekt Šance, o. s. is now looking for locations to which they can transfer the successful Dům Šance project and the WORKING THERAPEUTIC WORKSHOP for “Street Children”.

Statement from László Sümegh:

“I am honoured to be able to accept this thanks on behalf of Projekt Šance for the outstanding implementation of the project, especially at such a time”.