NGOs project seeks to improve relations with regional governments

Meant to create more synergy between non-profits, the private and public sectors, a project entitled “Czech NGO Weeks” will bring a number of events, seminars and exhibitions to regions throughout the country in February and March. Květa Morávková, one of the campaign’s organisers with the NGO Association in the Czech Republic, discusses the aims of the campaign.

Květa Morávková

“The main goal of this campaign is to improve the partnership between NGOs and the government, especially regional governments and the partnership with the private sector, for example companies that are able to support many activities and projects of NGO.”

In the Czech Republic, the NGO sector is relatively young, it has only existed for about 20 years. How has it developed since the Velvet Revolution?

“I think it has gotten richer since the revolution, a lot of citizens are very active in various types of NGOs around the Czech Republic, for example lots of youth organizations, environmental groups, community groups active in villages and cities. A lot of social and health issues here in the Czech Republic are addressed by NGOs, too.”

Czechs were amongst the most generous donors for the disaster stricken Haiti. Why do you think is there is a strong will here to donate?

“I think that the Czech Republic has a deep tradition of solidarity. There are also many social problems in our republic, and the response to such situations is very well organized. Several foundations have a very simple system to collect and donate money for situations such as the one in Haiti.”

And where do you think should the NGOs in this country go ideally, what could be improved?

“Currently, we are waiting for the introduction of tax breaks for individuals as well as firms, because it could lead to many more contributions in the future.”