For the online conference carried out by the Czech organisation Spiralis – WE LIVE IN CORONA – within the project "Manage the COVID crisis with Care, reasOn, Values, unIty, soliDarity", renowned experts, representatives of pro-family non-profit organisations, companies and institutions were invited to share the results of research, their experience and recommendations.
Here are more outcomes of the event:
SOCIAL SERVICE IS NOT LEISURE ACTIVITY - THE UNAVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Agáta Jankovská, Director of the Alliance of Individualised Support, pointed out the contrast between the health effects of the pandemic and the effects of ill-considered government measures. According to a survey of 639 caregivers and their dependents, government action has negatively affected three times more people with disabilities than the pandemic alone. Caregivers were left alone to care for their dependents on a day-to- day basis. Jankovská emphasised that caregivers and dependents are a larger group in the Czech Republic than seniors.
According to Jankovská, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with disabilities and their chronic illnesses and their caregivers shows that the impact of the unavailability of social care in spring 2020 affected up to 50 percent of the above-mentioned population.
THE ROLE OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN PREVENTING INEQUALITIES AND HOW TO FINANCE THEM
The chairwoman of the co-organising platform of the Czech Women’s Lobby, Marta Smolíková, presented a set of recommendations of 39 member entities for the Czech Republic in connection with the experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the recommendations is also to ensure adequate funding for non-profit organisations that defend women’s rights. The situation of women with pandemics has exacerbated more than that of men. Women carry a higher share of care for children of all ages and for their parents, which caused a more significant increase in unemployment for women than for men in the summer of 2020.
PARENTS ARE OFTEN ASHAMED TO RECEIVE NOT ONLY FOOD AID
Zuzana Vránová, the founder of the Neighbourhood Club, which distributes food and other necessities to lonely seniors and families in need in Prague’s Vršovice, describes how the composition of the people they help has changed due to a pandemic. Not only women but also single fathers come. An important component is the psychological support of clients, which they can provide thanks to support from European funds. Vránová mentioned that non-governmental organisations are here to help in crisis situations. They can work with volunteers, are flexible and can quickly ensure that the help they need reaches the right people. According to Vránová, the mistake is that non- profit organisations are underestimated by the state and society.
THE SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT CHILDREN AGAINST VIOLENCE - CHILDREN’S VOTES MUST BE HEARD!
According to Petra Wünschová, the founder and director of the LOCIKA Center, the people in the pandemic realised that violence was very much related to mental health problems. The theme of Locika has become a social theme. The organisation has seen an increase in the shaping of support materials on social networks, information leaflets on how not only children can take care of their mental health are posted in many doctors’ and therapists’ surgeries in many places across the country. She pointed out that the mental health of children deteriorates during lockdowns. Unfortunately, the uncertainty as to whether or not they will recur is still present.
Petra Wünschová invited people to the Bubnovačka event, which aimed to draw attention to the importance of protecting children from violence and to open up the topic of early prevention in society. The Prague castle, the Police of the Czech Republic, and schools also joined the event, which took place on 19 November 2021.
WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILD IF ME OR MY HUSBAND GET COVID?
The co-founder of the association supporting parents of children with disabilities, Jarmila Neuwirthová, shared her nightmare with their severely disabled daughter and a healthy preschooler, who further stated that she had no other place to school the child. She also said that relief and rehabilitation services were unavailable and the children suffered from unavailability of services that help with their mental health. Neuwirthová appealed to those present that in times of crisis, the capacity of relief services should be further increased, not just kept available.
PEOPLE STOP BEING AFRAID OF ASKING FOR HELP
As many as 85% of people are facing a significant decline in overall living wellbeing, even at work, said Petra Sýkorová, a representative of the SOS line at family service, who helps people with problems working in companies and organisations. In coronavirus, the callers mainly dealt with communication and family relationships, depression and congestion, and more addiction-related calls.
Recordings of the participation of all speakers and of the seminars are available in Czech and in Spiralis Youtube channel for anyone interested.
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