Czech NGO teaches Romani people how to start their own businesses

The DROM Romani Center in Brno, Czech Republic, in collaboration with a statewide project called “Do It!”, has just finished delivering a course to show Romani people how to start their own businesses. According to experts, support for small entrepreneurial activities is one way to address the problem of Romani people finding their place on the Czech labor market.

Robin Stria, the DROM manager, said in a press release that “One does not even have to already have one’s own business idea to attend the course – it’s enough to comprehend what is important for business, and that is drive. We are pleased that those attending have come regularly to the course and one participant is even very seriously considering launching her own business in the locality.”

That project is said to be for a café. Romani people frequently have problems when seeking employment and many have experienced discrimination, which in recent years has been repeatedly warned about by activists and some organizations in the Czech Republic.

“One of the possible solutions to this negative situation is exactly such support for self-employment and entrepreneurial activities,” said the director of the Institute for Social Innovation, Jiří Daneš. The “Do It!” project has been running for three years.

In addition to collaborating with DROM, it involves colleges and Labor Offices. The courses for people who want to start a business are also being held in Ostrava, Prague and Zlín.