People in Need: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Peopleinneed.png|140px|thumb|right|People in Need logo]] |
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| ⚫ | '''People in Need''' ('''PIN''', ''Člověk v tísni'' in [[Czech language|Czech]]) is a [[Czech Republic|Czech]] nonprofit, non-governmental organization that implements relief and development projects in crisis regions around the globe, while working to defend human rights and democratic freedom. At home, People in Need administers social integration programs in the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Slovakia]] and provides informative and educational activities. <ref>PIN's ''About us'' webpage: [http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=405].</ref> |
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=== PINF's work === |
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Currently the organization is working in [[Afghanistan]], [[Angola]], [[Armenia]], [[Cambodia]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Iraq]], [[Lebanon]], [[Namibia]], [[Pakistan]], [[Romania]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. It is supporting democratic groups in countries like [[Burma]], [[Cuba]], [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Moldavia]]. The headquarters of the organization is in [[Prague]]. |
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PIN is one of the largest organizations of its kind in post-communist Europe (2007: budget over 12 million of Euro with staff about 500 all over the world <ref>2007 Annual Report: http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/download/pdf/163.pdf</ref>). It works or worked in more than 40 countries. |
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At home, People in Need Foundation administers social integration programs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and provides informative and educational activities. PINF is one of the largest organizations of its kind in post-communist Europe. |
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==History== |
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The organization was founded in 1992 by [[Šimon Pánek]], a student activist during the [[Velvet Revolution]], and by [[Jaromír Štětina]], a war correspondent. The organization's name in 1992 was ''Nadace Lidových novin'' (''[[Lidové noviny]] Foundation''), in 1994 it was changed to ''Nadace Člověk v tísni při České televizi'' (''Foundation People in Need by the [[Czech Television]]'') and since 1999 it uses its current name. As of 2009, Šimon Pánek is still the director of PIN. |
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[[Image:Peopleinneed.png|140px|thumb|right|People in Need]] |
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What is PINF today began in 1992 when dissidents and leaders of the Czechoslovak Velvet Revolution teamed with conflict journalists to form the Epicentrum Foundation, renamed People in Need and partnered with Czech Public Service Television 1994. From its beginnings, PINF has aimed to deliver relief aid and development assistance while raising the public’s level of awareness of the countries in which PINF works. Over fourteen years, PIN has developed many public awareness campaigns aimed at providing independent and unbiased information for journalists, opinion makers and the general public. Through campaigns, information projects and media supplements PINF believes it is possible to support an informed and empowered civil society both at home and abroad. |
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PIN activities are most visible during large humanitarian crisis, such as [[2002 European floods|2002 floods in the Czech Republic]], [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] (when Czechs individuals and companies donated over 130 million [[Czech koruna|Czk]] <ref>http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=483</ref>) or [[2007 Greek forest fires]]. In Africa and Asia PIN implements development projects providing basic human needs and education. It supports opposition movements or individuals in several countries, such as [[Cuba]], [[Burma]], [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]] or [[Moldova]]. In the Czech Republic it concentrates on support of local [[Roma people in the Czech Republic|Roma]] (Gypsies) who live on the edge of the society, organizes cultural activities (most prominent being the [[One World Film Festival]]), information projects and is also involved in political activism. |
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In 2007 <ref>See the 2007 Annual Report.</ref> PIN had major projects in [[Afghanistan]] (irrigation, local schools), [[Sri Lanka]] (since the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 earthquake]]), [[Pakistan]] (reconstruction after the [[2005 Kashmir earthquake|2005 earthquake]] in Pakistani part of [[Kashmir]]), [[Angola]] and [[Ethiopia]] (construction of schools), [[Namibia]] (help for the people with HIV/AIDS), [[Romania]] and [[Serbia]] (help for the groups of ethnic Czechs settled there for generations) and several other countries. |
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Major sources of revenue <ref>See the 2007 Annual Report (page 40) for detailed breakdown or the reports from previous years: [http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=569].</ref> are the Czech government and Czech municipalities, followed by donations by companies. Individual donations peaked in response to the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]. PIN cooperates with [[European Community Humanitarian Aid Office|ECHO]], [[EuropeAid]], [[UNHCR]], [[UNICEF]], [[World Food Programme|WFP]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]] and many others and is registered with [[USAID]] as an international private voluntary organization. |
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==Criticism== |
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People in Need was active in [[Chechnya]] and [[Ingushetia]] since 2000. In 2005 Russian weekly [[Argumenty i Fakty]] claimed the organization supports Chechen separatist and terrorists <ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20070812020339rn_1/gazeta.aif.ru/online/aif/1273/14_01 В наших стреляют автоматы ООН? (in Russian)</ref>; PIN denied any involvement. <ref>http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2.php?id=317&idArt=24 (in Czech)</ref> Later the same year Russia expelled the organization; it was allowed back in 2007. <ref>http://zpravodajstvi.ecn.cz/index.stm?apc=zzvx1-2051359 (in Czech)</ref> |
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In 2006, during a meeting of [[United Nations Economic and Social Council|ECOSOC]], ambassador of [[Cuba]] in the [[United Nations|UN]] accused PIN of being financed by the [[USA]] to conspire against the government of Cuba and of keeping contacts with Cuban emigrants with terrorist past. After the voting PIN was not recommended for the consultative status with the ECOSOC. <ref>http://biblioteca.rrp.upr.edu/LatCritCD/portfolioofprojects/acadcom/latcritngo/lcngoecosocmemo1_24_06.pdf Protocol from the meeting</ref><ref>http://biblioteca.rrp.upr.edu/LatCritCD/portfolioofprojects/acadcom/latcritngo/lcngoecosocmemo1_24_06.pdf Decision not to recommend PIN</ref><ref>http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/ECF9825D8494CC36C12571B2006A5BB8?OpenDocument ECOSOC meeting overview</ref> |
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PIN was criticized by few Czech journalists of using political criteria whom to help: after the [[1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|Kosovo war]] it supported Kosovar Albanians but not the local Serbs and after the [[2008 South Ossetia war]] it delivered relief only to the Georgian civilians. <ref>http://www.blisty.cz/art/42080.html Article in [[Britské listy]]: ''People in [[Tskhinvali]] are in need, where's People in Need?'' (in Czech)</ref> |
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Political activities (such as propagation of [[multi-culturalism]] and immigration or presenting Czech Roma as the victims of oppression by the society) was criticized by those with different political views. |
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===Cooperation=== |
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People in Need Foundation believes that cooperation is essential in order to meaningfully contribute to offering solutions to the world’s problems. PIN is an active partner in [[Alliance 2015]], the [[Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS)]], [[the European Union Monitoring Center (EUMC)]], [[Eurostep]] and with [[CONCORD]]. PIN is also an implementing partner with [[ECHO (European Commission)|ECHO]], [[EuropeAid]], [[UNHCR]], [[UNICEF]], [[WFP]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]] and many others, as well as being registered with [[USAID]] as an international private voluntary organization. PIN is a legally registered Czech non-profit, non-governmental organization with its seat at Sokolska 18, Prague 2, Czech Republic. |
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==See also== |
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[[One World Film Festival]] |
* [[One World Film Festival]] |
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==Notes== |
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---- |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/ People in Need (Official |
* [http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/ People in Need (Official site)] |
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* [http://clovekvtisni.cz/indexen.php People in Need (English version)] |
** [http://clovekvtisni.cz/indexen.php People in Need (English version)] |
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* [http://www.skolavafrice.cz/ People in Need public collection for ethiopian schools] |
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* [http://www.skutecnapomoc.cz/ People in Need public collection for its developing projects in world] |
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[[Category:Humanitarian aid organizations]] |
[[Category:Humanitarian aid organizations]] |
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[[cs:Člověk v tísni]] |
[[cs:Člověk v tísni]] |
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{{charity-org-stub}} |
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Revision as of 16:06, 21 May 2009
People in Need (PIN, Člověk v tísni in Czech) is a Czech nonprofit, non-governmental organization that implements relief and development projects in crisis regions around the globe, while working to defend human rights and democratic freedom. At home, People in Need administers social integration programs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and provides informative and educational activities. [1]
PIN is one of the largest organizations of its kind in post-communist Europe (2007: budget over 12 million of Euro with staff about 500 all over the world [2]). It works or worked in more than 40 countries.
History
The organization was founded in 1992 by Šimon Pánek, a student activist during the Velvet Revolution, and by Jaromír Štětina, a war correspondent. The organization's name in 1992 was Nadace Lidových novin (Lidové noviny Foundation), in 1994 it was changed to Nadace Člověk v tísni při České televizi (Foundation People in Need by the Czech Television) and since 1999 it uses its current name. As of 2009, Šimon Pánek is still the director of PIN.
PIN activities are most visible during large humanitarian crisis, such as 2002 floods in the Czech Republic, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (when Czechs individuals and companies donated over 130 million Czk [3]) or 2007 Greek forest fires. In Africa and Asia PIN implements development projects providing basic human needs and education. It supports opposition movements or individuals in several countries, such as Cuba, Burma, Belarus, Ukraine or Moldova. In the Czech Republic it concentrates on support of local Roma (Gypsies) who live on the edge of the society, organizes cultural activities (most prominent being the One World Film Festival), information projects and is also involved in political activism.
In 2007 [4] PIN had major projects in Afghanistan (irrigation, local schools), Sri Lanka (since the 2004 earthquake), Pakistan (reconstruction after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistani part of Kashmir), Angola and Ethiopia (construction of schools), Namibia (help for the people with HIV/AIDS), Romania and Serbia (help for the groups of ethnic Czechs settled there for generations) and several other countries.
Major sources of revenue [5] are the Czech government and Czech municipalities, followed by donations by companies. Individual donations peaked in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. PIN cooperates with ECHO, EuropeAid, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, IOM and many others and is registered with USAID as an international private voluntary organization.
Criticism
People in Need was active in Chechnya and Ingushetia since 2000. In 2005 Russian weekly Argumenty i Fakty claimed the organization supports Chechen separatist and terrorists [6]; PIN denied any involvement. [7] Later the same year Russia expelled the organization; it was allowed back in 2007. [8]
In 2006, during a meeting of ECOSOC, ambassador of Cuba in the UN accused PIN of being financed by the USA to conspire against the government of Cuba and of keeping contacts with Cuban emigrants with terrorist past. After the voting PIN was not recommended for the consultative status with the ECOSOC. [9][10][11]
PIN was criticized by few Czech journalists of using political criteria whom to help: after the Kosovo war it supported Kosovar Albanians but not the local Serbs and after the 2008 South Ossetia war it delivered relief only to the Georgian civilians. [12]
Political activities (such as propagation of multi-culturalism and immigration or presenting Czech Roma as the victims of oppression by the society) was criticized by those with different political views.
See also
Notes
- ^ PIN's About us webpage: [1].
- ^ 2007 Annual Report: http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/download/pdf/163.pdf
- ^ http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=483
- ^ See the 2007 Annual Report.
- ^ See the 2007 Annual Report (page 40) for detailed breakdown or the reports from previous years: [2].
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070812020339rn_1/gazeta.aif.ru/online/aif/1273/14_01 В наших стреляют автоматы ООН? (in Russian)
- ^ http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2.php?id=317&idArt=24 (in Czech)
- ^ http://zpravodajstvi.ecn.cz/index.stm?apc=zzvx1-2051359 (in Czech)
- ^ http://biblioteca.rrp.upr.edu/LatCritCD/portfolioofprojects/acadcom/latcritngo/lcngoecosocmemo1_24_06.pdf Protocol from the meeting
- ^ http://biblioteca.rrp.upr.edu/LatCritCD/portfolioofprojects/acadcom/latcritngo/lcngoecosocmemo1_24_06.pdf Decision not to recommend PIN
- ^ http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/ECF9825D8494CC36C12571B2006A5BB8?OpenDocument ECOSOC meeting overview
- ^ http://www.blisty.cz/art/42080.html Article in Britské listy: People in Tskhinvali are in need, where's People in Need? (in Czech)