It is during the holidays that we all become especially aware of how important the family we come from is to us. That is why the Open Arms project was created, which we would like to present to you today. In cooperation with our partner Škoda Auto we support a programme that helps children from orphanages to keep or find their way back to their families. Even if their situation has not been easy and they have been separated from their parents, they still need to know that they belong somewhere.

The Open Arms project supports children to better understand their family relationships and have a chance for a more stable and loving childhood. The project involves five children’s homes from the Central Bohemia, Pardubice and Hradec Králové regions.

Key workers from these homes actively seek out and develop contact between children and their families. They help to arrange visits, also help children to stay with their families during holidays and vacations, help to arrange phone calls or correspondence with family members. They also organize various events for family members of children placed in children’s homes. This year 92 children were involved in the project.