Non-Sectarian Initiatives In Czech Republic
"The floods have brought people together in unexpected ways" remarks Jan Munk, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Prague.
JDC initiated two projects to aid the general population that was severely affected by the flooding in the Czech Republic.
A Central School Dining Hall in Karlin
The Prague working-class neighborhood of Karlin was one of the hardest hit of
any community in the country. Weeks after the flooding, around 25,000 people were
still displaced from their homes. In the middle of Karlin is a complex of
five schools that were in desperate need of repair. The damage was caused by
water levels that rose as high as 4 meters above the classroom floors.
In the middle of this complex is a central dining hall,
where all of the pupils receive their meals. Restoring
the dining hall is the priority that will help to reopen
the schools and encourage families to move back to their
homes. The JDC Country Director received
a letter from the American Embassy in Prague stating,
"the Ambassador has designated assistance to Karlin
as a priority after seeing first hand the damage the
town has suffered."
Working in coordination with the American Embassy, People
in Need (a renowned Czech organization), the Czech Jewish
Federation, and the Karlin Municipality (Prague 8),
JDC is playing a major role in restoring this dining
hall.
Sheltered Housing in Terezin
JDC helped to repair and renovate a sheltered housing unit for people
with disabilities in the town of Terezin. The ground floor was in ruins,
and the former residents had to be evacuated to temporary accommodations. During World War II, these rooms once held up to 300 Danish Jews. A total of 14 individuals now reside in the refurbished
units.
This project will be carried out in cooperation with the Terezin Memorial, the Terezin Municipality (which manages the housing and finances its costs)the Preciosa Foundation, the Olga Havlova Foundation, and People in Need.
For more information for these or other non-sectarian
programs,
please contact:
