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Who are we

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Association for Integration and Migration (Simi) is a human rights organization that advocates for the rights of migrants and provides them with comprehensive support without distinction. It promotes integration, mutual coexistence, and strives for a fair and open society perceiving migration as a benefit and a natural part of life.

At Simi, we provide free legal, social, psychosocial counseling and intercultural work services to migrants and refugees in the Czech Republic. We communicate with the public, operate in all media, participate in professional discussions, seminars, conferences, etc. We engage in educational and awareness-raising activities, organize events for migrants and refugees, interested actors and the wider public. At Simi, we strive for systemic changes and influence legislation in the field of migration, integration and refugees, thereby improving the lives of migrants in the Czech Republic.

Vision

Our vision is an open and informed society that sees migration as a benefit and a natural part of life. We strive for an environment in which migrants have easy access to information, rules are clearly formulated, and specific needs of each individual are taken into account.

Mission

Our vision is an open and informed society that sees migration as a benefit and a natural part of life. We strive for an environment in which migrants have easy access to information, rules are clearly formulated, and specific needs of each individual are taken into account.

The Association for Integration and Migration was founded in 1992, when thousands of refugees fled war-torn Yugoslavia for the Czech Republic. That same year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began operating in Prague. The UNHCR Head reached out to the Czechoslovak Helsinki Committee for cooperation.

With the support of the Embassy of Canada, the Czech Helsinki Committee’s Counselling Centre for Refugees was officially opened in 1993. The Centre was founded by Dana Němcová, a psychologist and former spokesperson for Charter 77, and translator and dissident Anna Grušová

Work with Yugoslav refugees was followed by efforts to assist refugees from other countries. In 1998, the Centre for Migration Issues was founded to address the migration and integration of foreigners into the Czech Republic.

At the end of 2002, the Counselling Centre for Refugees separated from the Czech Helsinki Committee and began operating as an independent non-governmental organization on January 1, 2003.

A major change occurred in 2008 when the Counselling Centre for Refugees merged with the Centre for Migration Issues, adopting a new name in the process: the Association for Integration and Migration (Sdružení pro integraci a migraci – Simi). Simi continues its work to this day.

Legal counselling

Simi offers migrants and refugees living in the Czech Republic, regardless of their residence status and nationality, free legal advice in Czech, Russian, English ...

Social counselling

The core activities of Simi include free provision of social advice focused primarily on employment and providing information on rights and obligations...

Intercultural work services

The activities of intercultural workers include escorting, assisting and interpreting, providing basic advice and arranging contacts for professional ...

Therapeutical consultations

Simi offers free mental health support and professional therapeutic advice to all clients who find themselves in a difficult personal or psychological situation...

Advocacy work and awareness

We participate in the creation and influence of migration and asylum legislation in the Czech Republic and the EU and public policies related to the integration of migrants.

Annual reports

Annual reports reflecting our work are available here.