The 1st support system focusing on gender-specific homelessness in the Czech Republic

Photo: Katerina Holmes on Canva

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Veronika Fajmonova within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Food Values Research Line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Jako Doma, Czech Republic

A project to change the perception of homeless women   

Jako Doma, “Cooks without a Home”, is a project initiated in 2013 by a group of change agents. It’s 1st of its kind in the Czech Republic.  

The idea is to empower homeless women by encouraging them to demonstrate their culinary skills at street markets and festivals. This contributes to reducing the stigma associated with homelessness, proving that these vulnerable people are able and desire to work and help them to integrate into society. As mentioned on their website “We are proud to look at homelessness differently. We believe that with the right help and support, any homeless person can achieve significant positive changes. “ 

To develop a support system and a strong network, the initiative collaborated with local, national, and international partners in the NGO sector (legal advisors, shelters, social workers, and sex-worker support organizations). They work to create a safe and secure location for homeless women where they can frequently gather, unwind, and spend time together. In addition, the project assists them with their administrative concerns including bills, housing, social benefits, etc. They also offer a movie club and a theatre. 

A Vision for the Future 

To further raise awareness about violence against women, and the importance of women’s economic empowerment, a media campaign has been launched. According to an article published by UN Women, Good Garden won a Smart Academy award at Serbia’s Regional Forum of Social Innovations in April 2016 for its sustainability, effectiveness, innovation and its good cause.  

Veran Matic of the Good Garden said: “The first results are encouraging. Our idea is to expand the project to all safe houses and in that way systematically and long-term help economic empowerment of women survivors of violence.” 

Find out more here.

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