One Country, Many Cultures: Why Non-Profit Organizations Are a Natural Bridge Between Institutions and People

According to the latest data from STEM (Institute of Empirical Research), nearly 60 % of the Czech public recognize the importance of non-profit organizations especially in times of crisis – during natural disasters, the pandemic, or war. In such moments, people see most clearly how NGOs can act quickly, sensitively and without complicated bureaucracy.

An analysis by the Prague-based organization Svět neziskovek (World of Nonprofits, 2025) shows, however, that Czech society remains divided in its view of the non-profit sector – part of the public trusts these organizations, while another part remains skeptical. The key factor is personal experience: those who have direct contact with a non-profit – as volunteers, donors, or participants – are much more likely to express trust.

A Natural Bridge Between Worlds

Non-profit organizations often stand between institutions and ordinary people – they are neither offices, nor companies, nor schools. They serve as a natural bridge that helps soften the gap between systems and the reality of everyday life. They translate the complex language of policy into human stories, seek practical solutions and foster communication and understanding where the worlds of officials, teachers and parents meet.

This principle also reflects Brusinka’s long-standing vision: “One Country, Many Cultures.”In an age of globalization and migration, diversity is not a passing trend but a lasting part of society. Recognizing it helps communities stay open, resilient and less vulnerable to the simplistic narratives and populism that too often divide people instead of bringing them together.

The Brno Context: A City of Collaboration

Brno has been undergoing visible transformation – new residents arrive, international schools and multicultural communities grow and new social links are formed. And it is precisely here that one can see how personal contact with an NGO changes perception. When someone joins a community event, a volunteer day, or a course, they discover that behind the “organization” there are no anonymous structures but real people – teachers, neighbors, students and parents.

From Practice: The Multicultural Center Brusinka

The Multicultural Center Brusinka, active in Brno since 2020, connects people of different countries and generations through education and culture. Its premises host language and music courses, art and storytelling workshops and volunteer events.“We often see how distrust turns into respect,” says the center’s team. “When a child of foreign parents starts speaking Czech and the family joins the local community for the first time, barriers on both sides begin to disappear.”

Volunteers – students, IT specialists and artists – come to help, tutor, or organize events. The city provides space, but true connection emerges in such community centers: places where people meet naturally, without formal boundaries.

Trust Grows Through Closeness

Research by STEM and OSF consistently confirms that personal experience strengthens trust. NGOs are most trusted where people encounter them in everyday life – through education, culture and community projects. At Brusinka, this happens daily: in language lessons, art studios and concerts.

Non-profit organizations are therefore not a “third sector” standing aside, but a living part of the city’s civic ecosystem – a natural bridge between schools, institutions, families, and public administration.A bridge that softens transitions, translates between worlds, and helps people feel heard and welcome.