Give Ukrainians a secure future – let's amplify our voice
Temporary protection helped Ukrainians find safety and jobs. Almost five years on, their work is indispensable – and yet they live on a stamp renewed every six months. Your donation will turn their stories into a campaign that 150,000 people will see and politicians will hear. Just CZK 100 shows the video to around 500 more people. Join us!
"Every six months I have to figure out whether I can stay here at all," says a dermatologist from Ukraine who has been treating patients in the Czech Republic for almost four years. Nothing makes her happier than seeing them leave with a smile.
But because of a minor administrative error, she lost her temporary protection. No one warned her – she simply received an email. For three months she was left without work and without health insurance. We helped her get her residence status back, and today she is working as a doctor again. But neither she nor thousands of others have real security.
In total, 380,000 refugees from Ukraine work and raise their children here. They contribute a net CZK 4.3 billion to the state budget every quarter, and 69% of Czechs believe they have integrated well.
We want them to be able to switch to standard long-term residence – the same status other foreign nationals have. That's why we're collecting signatures for an appeal that we will hand over to politicians.
Who's behind the campaign: The Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU) has been helping people from abroad for 35 years. Last year, 7,500 people received free legal and social counselling from us.
What your donations make possible:
CZK 5,000: We'll film two new videos. People who have put down roots here tell, in their own words, what it's like to live with uncertainty.
CZK 20,000: We'll cover the costs of the website and technical infrastructure.
CZK 30,000: We'll have an ad budget, so the first 50,000 people will see our Ukrainian neighbours' stories online.
CZK 50,000: The stories will reach 150,000 people who haven't heard them yet.
CZK 70,000: We'll hand your signatures to politicians together with the people it affects.
Over CZK 70,000: Every extra crown helps OPU provide free legal counselling to people from Ukraine who are working out what happens next with their residence.
A one-off donation will help get the campaign off the ground. A regular donation will ensure that our work for people who want to put down roots here continues long after it ends.
