How Does the Multicultural Center in Brno Operate?

Our Multicultural Center was established thanks to the passion and dedication of volunteers in 2020. The aim was to create a safe and welcoming space for foreign families, children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities — a place where they could learn, meet and discover something meaningful. Over the five years of our activity, the center has been visited by people from more than 118 countries.

We are always deeply moved and see it as a small miracle how our events bring together people of different nationalities and backgrounds. People from Peru make friends with those from Turkey, a New Zealander shakes hands with a Dutchman, Spanish language learners meet native speakers from Spain and Latin America, Africans learn Czech alongside Hungarians, an American student sings with a Polish teacher and Chinese musicians play melodies for Ukrainian children. Our key priorities are opportunities — as well as a safe space for self-expression, lifelong learning, personal development, support and friendship.

Brusinka is a non-profit Czech organization, but we operate mostly on a self-financing basis. Most of our courses and activities are fee-based because we need to cover rent, utilities, supplies and occasional facility repairs.

Thanks to the Department of Social Welfare of the City of Brno and the Brno-střed District, we have a roof over our heads. The building where our center is located is a city property. For public concerts, events and workshops, Brno-střed regularly provides us with halls and community spaces. This support enables us to host open, culturally rich events for the general public — for both locals and foreigners living in Brno. Since 2020, we have also been actively supporting refugees, especially from Ukraine. We provide them with language courses, activities for children, tutoring, counselling and help with cultural adaptation.

We operate as a non-profit organization and cover most of our expenses from our own resources. At the same time, we receive funding from grants and projects and engage volunteers to make it possible to organize free events and educational activities for our clients and lecturers. We receive an annual subsidy from the City of Brno to support the development of the multicultural community, which covers approximately five months of rent. We also collaborate with local and international partners on Erasmus+ projects, which allow us to organize exciting free activities, purchase materials and equipment or furnish our classrooms.

For the second year in a row, we have been supported by AT&T — in addition to financial aid for multicultural events, they also donated laptops for refugee children. We have also received assistance from companies such as Red Hat and Forscope. Last year, we started collaborating with the Anna Lindh Foundation, with which we carried out a pilot project. This year, we have submitted several Erasmus+ project applications and are hoping for success.

From time to time, we receive small donations from sponsors, which help us bridge difficult periods and cope with inflation. We are constantly working to secure funding, as our activities cannot be fully covered by the sources mentioned above. The biggest challenge is paying rent — we constantly have to find ways to cover this essential expense, which significantly hinders the center’s development.

What keeps us going are our clients and their positive mindset and achievements, our teachers who never lose faith in a better future and of course our partners in Brno — Brno Expat Center, Center for Foreigners, ANNO JMK, Diocesan Charity, Ratolest, Salvation Army, CO.LABS, South Moravian Youth Council, Brno for You, Brno Breakthrough, Better Story Bookstore and others. These are the partners who share with us the values of support, openness and mutual respect.

Nonetheless, our daily interaction with people who find their way to us fills us with energy and determination. This work is not easy — it brings uncertainty, unexpected obstacles and financial stress. But it also constantly inspires us, teaches us patience, courage and deep respect for the diversity of human stories. It gives our work meaning. And it is thanks to this inner strength and the support of our community, volunteers, teachers and partners that we are able to create a space where culture, education and humanity meet.

How Can You Support Us?Thank you, we truly appreciate your interest in supporting our center in any way. Everyone has different possibilities, so here you can find a variety of options:

1. Volunteer opportunities: link

2. Donations: Darujme.cz PayPal Deed Donat.network

   Ko-fi

   EveryOrg Donorbox.org

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