Scandalous decision of the Committee of Prague 11:
Close down the Centre for homeless families. Do not touch our pub.
The NGO Walking Together has been using the leased premises of a former nursery in Donovalska Street in Prague - the Southern City for well over ten years as a centre for homeless single mothers and families with children, and a Citizen's Advice Centre. Every year, more than a hundred single mothers and families with children find accommodation in the Walking Together and more than one thousand clients use the Citizen's Advice centre. Detailed information (in Czech only) is available on http://www.spolcest.cz.
The Local Council of Prague 11 (the Southern City) has decided to terminate the lease of the premises in three months without any previous warning. The reason given is a lack of kindergartens. Arguments that there are other premises that could be used and that the decision puts an end to a very much needed facility which is unique in its style of work are not taken into account. They don't even take into consideration that a kindergarten could be a set up in the Walking Together Centre.
The NGO Walking Together together with its partner the Evangelical church of Czech Brethren congregation strive to preserve the Centre. Together, they managed to put through a proposal to be dealt with at a meeting of the Committee of Prague 11 on 22nd January 2009.
The proposal of a resolution:
Committee of Prague 11 asks the Local Council of Prague 11 to:
- revoke the termination of the lease of the premises to the NGO Walking Together in Donovalska Street
- intensify the effort to regain a former nursery in Chomutovicka Street for the purpose of establishing a kindergarten
- terminate the the lease of the premises of a former kindergarten in Hrabakova Street, which is now used as a fitness centre and a pub
- consider the possibility of setting up a kindergarten in the Walking Together Centre in Donovalska Street
Although the points have been voted on one by one, the committee members have rejected them all. The message they send to the Local council is:
We do not want a Centre for homeless families. Keep the fitness centre and the pub. We are not interested in getting other premises for a kindergarten.
This decission is a shock to us and we see it as a warning. Therefore we want to rouse all good people in this country. Send this message on to others, please. We are also addressing our partners abroad.
You can find detailed information on our website http://www.sos-azyl.cz/inpage/english/. Please write to the mayors of Prague 11 and the City of Prague.
A demonstration in support of the Walking Together Centre is planned for 8 a.m. on Thursday 29th January at the Municipal Council of the City of Prague in Mariánské náměstí at the time of a meeting of the Committee of the City of Prague. Come and support us!
To make the situation clear, let us explain that Conservative Party (ODS) is in coalition with Social Democratic Party (CSSD) and therefore supporting this cause is not doing 'high politics'. It certainly means helping socially marginalised people and it is a matter of elementary decency.
NGO Walking Together The Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren Congregation Prague - the Southern City