Why is civic participation important?

Civic participation is vital for amplifying diverse opinions in public debates and ensuring that those who might otherwise remain unheard are given a voice. This is especially important in the context of migration. In cities like Prague, where many residents with migration backgrounds lack political representation or voting rights, civic engagement becomes an indispensable resource. It offers a possibility to actively contribute to the development of the local community and shape the decisions that impact all residents.

By participating in volunteering, advocacy groups, or NGO-led initiatives, people with lived migration experience can demonstrate their commitment to society while fostering mutual understanding with other residents. Such involvement enriches the community by incorporating diverse perspectives, leading to more inclusive decision-making and nurturing a shared responsibility for the collective future.

Early opportunities for civic engagement are especially impactful, as they help counteract feelings of rejection, promote a shared sense of belonging, and strengthen bonds between individuals and their communities. When people see that their voices matter, they feel more connected and valued.

What role does civic participation play in your own life and how did you get involved in this work?

In my case it is deeply woven into my personal journey and development, also in the context of my own lived migration experience. I didn’t encounter the concept of civic participation until I moved to Prague almost 20 years ago. Growing up in a non-democratic society, I had no idea what it truly meant. In my youth, civic engagement wasn’t something you could openly practice. It was often hidden, dangerous, and misunderstood. It wasn’t until I moved to Prague that I encountered civic engagement in its various forms. It fascinated me to the point that I got a degree in Civil society studies and have been working for over a decade in the non-profit sector.

What drives me the most in my work is the question: How can we make civil society accessible to those who struggle to reach it? How do we make it stronger and more present in the everyday lives of people? I am convinced that, in the right conditions, civil society has the power to amplify the voices of the powerless. It’s not always easy, and the path can be filled with obstacles, but I firmly believe that it’s worth every effort.

What strategies does MigAct utilise in supporting Praguers with lived migration experience to become more active citizens of your city? How does it work, in brief?

MigAct is a community-driven organisation, committed to fostering an inclusive environment where residents — whether of migration backgrounds or Czech-born — can actively participate in civic life. We create collaborative spaces, provide educational activities, and offer multilingual resources to meet the practical needs of individuals and organisations. We engage in reducing barriers to full civic participation, guided by the values of cooperation, equity, responsibility, and active participation. As a diverse community of individuals, organisations, and institutions, we believe in co-creating and actively involving our supporters in our development and programs.

In brief, MigAct works to bring people together by creating opportunities for mutual support, dialogue, and information exchange. We foster spaces where individuals from different backgrounds can connect, share experiences, and collaborate on local issues. Our approach goes beyond simply providing resources — we aim to build the capacity of local NGOs, emerging community leaders, and organisations to ensure that they can effectively engage with and support diverse communities. We actively promote the values of partnership and collaboration, striving to unite a range of stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society organisations, and individuals.

Can you give examples of topics and project ideas that MigAct has been able to support in the past two years? Are you already seeing the ripple effect of some of these?

MigAct was established as a dynamic civic initiative in 2022, transitioning into a fully-fledged NGO in 2023. A core principle of our organisation is to involve the community we serve in the development of our programs and activities. This commitment has shaped our work, focusing on testing various forms of support for individuals and organisations. Over the past two years, we’ve run educational programs, provided mentoring and counselling, developed new partnerships, and created spaces for community members to connect and collaborate.

One of our bigger projects, UNITES, was a collaboration with Prague City Hall, supported by EUROCITIES. It brought together representatives from EU cities to share best practices in co-designing public policies.

Through a series of participatory events, public forums, and online consultations, we provided platforms for residents with migration backgrounds to engage directly with city officials on integration policies. Currently under evaluation, this project has strengthened ties between civil servants and city residents, with plans for ongoing collaboration.

We also host Networking events that bring together individuals, NGOs, and institutions within civil society. These collaborative, multilingual spaces foster new partnerships and connections. We’re beginning to see the ripple effects of these events, with more collaborations forming in the community.

How can we make this work more sustainable? How do you build lasting bridges between the local population and Prague residents who come from other countries?

To make our efforts more sustainable we need to work more on evaluation and impact measurement of our activities. By assessing the effectiveness of our activities, we can ensure that the projects we undertake are truly beneficial and address the community’s needs. Developing a systematic approach to impact assessment is key, and we have already made progress with the strategic plan and theory of change, supported by EPIM.

Equally important for long-term sustainability is fostering a strong, interconnected community. We aim to create more spaces and opportunities for individuals and organisations to collaborate and build bridges. Additionally, we plan to expand capacity-building initiatives for both individuals and organisations, addressing the current gap in educational and multilingual resources. This will enable more people to engage meaningfully within the community.

Finally, advocating for inclusive public policies, voting rights, and the adoption of inclusive language is essential for building a truly welcoming society. These efforts will help ensure that Prague remains a city where everyone, regardless of background, feels valued and heard. These efforts, when thoughtfully executed, will serve as lasting foundations for inclusion and belonging.