UNICEF Refugee Response in the Czech Republic
Supporting families who fled the war and promoting the rights of every child in the Czech Republic
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From 2022 to 2025, UNICEF worked closely with governments, municipalities and civil society organizations in Czechia to deliver a coordinated humanitarian refugee response – supporting children, youth and caregivers who fled the war in Ukraine, promoting the rights of every child, and helping make systems more inclusive and resilient.
Following the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, almost 7 million people – mostly women and children – were forced to leave their homes in search of safety.
Of these, 725,792 have registered for temporary protection in Czechia, a key host country. As of the end of November 2025, 396,000 remain.
The solidarity and support of the Government and people of Czechia have been remarkable. At the same time, the large number of arrivals strained service provision systems, both at the national and local levels.
As part of the United Nations regional refugee response, UNICEF established its Refugee Response Office in partnership with the national and local governments, as well as civil society and the private sector. The Office’s programme focused on strengthening national capacities to provide critical services to refugee children and youth, including access to early childhood development, education, healthcare, child and social protection, adolescent development, mental health and psychosocial support, with particular emphasis on the most vulnerable.
Although the focus has been specifically on assisting refugees, every child and family in the country ultimately benefits from reinforced systems and improved access to services.
Our programmes in Czech Republic
Our programmes
Every child has the right to equitable, safe and quality learning, regardless of their gender, socio-economic status, abilities or disabilities, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, or refugee status.
For children fleeing the war in Ukraine, education represents more than just the right to learn. It provides access to a safe and nurturing space, an enabling learning environment for positive mental health and well-being, and opportunities to develop skills and competencies to imagine and realize a successful future.
From early childhood to adolescence, education is one of the most critical elements for the sound development of children and young people, especially for those who have dealt with traumatic or stressful situations. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provides a safe space for children under six years old to play, learn, and cope with loss and displacement while allowing parents, particularly mothers, to study and work. Quality inclusive education equips refugee children and adolescents with knowledge and skills that can help them rebuild their lives in the host country, while also providing a sense of normalcy and belonging that is essential for their emotional well-being and integration.
Since 2022, 215,000 refugee children have arrived in Czechia. As of November 2025, more than 92,200 children (aged 0-18) and more than 90,000 adolescents and youth (15-24) remain. This sudden influx of students posed an unprecedented challenge.
The Czech Government and people have shown tremendous solidarity in welcoming newly arrived children and young people to their schools. The primary school enrolment of refugee children reached 80 per cent in September 2025. Still, secondary school enrolment among refugee youth remains low at an estimated 23-33 per cent. Meanwhile, the municipalities hosting the largest number of refugees have faced challenges such as limited school spaces, a shortage of tailored learning materials, and the limited capacity of teachers managing classrooms with students speaking different languages, having varying skill levels, or requiring specialized mental health support. Schools have also faced difficulties in communicating with Ukrainian parents and families.
UNICEF’s response
UNICEF partnered with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), the Ministry of Interior (MoI), and other stakeholders to uphold every child’s right to inclusive and quality education and to strengthen the Czech education system’s preparedness and resilience. These partnerships supported learning continuity, language acquisition, psychosocial well-being, and system-wide capacity building from early childhood to adolescence.
179,000 children benefited from formal and non-formal education programmes supported by UNICEF.
11,700 young refugee children accessed early childhood development services in 67 play and learning centres and 18 integration centres.
17,000 Ukrainian and Czech teachers, teaching assistants and school staff were trained to support inclusion of Ukrainian children and others with special education needs.
New methodologies, language courses, information channels, analyses and campaigns improved access and quality of education.
National mechanisms for inclusion, psychosocial support and data-driven planning were strengthened within MoEYS structures.
Early childhood education and care (ECEC)
To address shortages in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, MoLSA’s special grant scheme supported the creation of 67 play and learning centres across the country, reaching over 6,500 refugee children up to the age of six. In parallel, 18 child-friendly spaces were established in MoI’s Regional Integration Centres across the country, offering children safe environments for play and learning while also helping families connect with education, health and social services. Both interventions strengthened the quality of ECEC through training on early learning, inclusion, trauma-informed practices, and parenting support.
Building on these humanitarian efforts, UNICEF worked with MoLSA and MoEYS to develop a joint Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for ECEC, aimed at improving governance, accountability and quality assurance across services. Funded by the EU, this initiative laid the foundation for long-term reform, helping ensure that emergency measures translate into sustainable improvements benefiting all young children.
Inclusive education and teacher capacity building
UNICEF worked with MoEYS, National Pedagogical Institute (NPI), Educational Institute of Central Bohemia (VISK) and META to strengthen teachers’ capacity to support refugee children’s learning and well-being. Teachers, school staff and assistants were trained to manage diverse classrooms, teach Czech as a second language, and create safe and nurturing learning environments. Qualification courses enabled Czech and Ukrainian nationals to become certified teaching assistants to support inclusion and better learning education outcomes for children.
Psychosocial support and promoting safe learning environments
Joint efforts in strengthening psychosocial support systems in schools with high refugee enrolment helped create safe and nurturing learning environments for both students and educators. MoEYS mobile teams provided group and individual support for students, while school teams were trained to identify early signs of distress and ensure timely referrals to specialized services. In partnership with NPI and the National Institute of Mental Health, teachers and school professionals (from kindergartens to secondary schools) were trained in trauma-informed practices, teacher well-being and psychological first aid. More than 85,000 children, youth and caregivers accessed mental health and psychosocial support through these interventions.
Education system information and awareness
To ensure parents had access to timely information and guidance on navigating the Czech education system and available language courses, UNICEF helped establish the MoEYS Helpline and a nationwide “Back to School” communication campaign with META and local CSOs, generating millions of views.
Data-informed and coordinated response
MoEYS and UNICEF coordinated a national network of governmental, CSO and research partners to align support for refugee children and share knowledge across the education sector. UNICEF also supported PAQ Research’s “Voice of Ukrainians” survey, providing regular data on school participation, Czech language progress and well-being. An additional study mapping the situation of unaccompanied and separated refugee children informed policies on deinstitutionalization and family-based care.
UNICEF welcomes the following sustainability measures the Government and partners put in place for continued provision of vital support and services for refugee children and youth:
- The ECEC grant scheme was integrated into MoLSA’s regular family support programme, ensuring continued funding for community-based early learning and parenting services.
- Several play and learning centres established during the refugee response have since been formally registered as children’s groups, securing their long-term place in the national ECEC system.
- Training and methodological materials are now embedded in pre-service and in-service teacher training at NPI, MoEYS, VISK and META.
- The MoEYS Helpline is fully funded and operated by the Ministry as of autumn 2024.
- Information resources for Ukrainian parents, children and youth remain publicly accessible via partners channels.
- The Mobile Desegregation Team is funded and operated by the Ministry.
- The Czech language syllabus developed with UNICEF support enables accreditation and reimbursement of courses through Labour Offices.
Refugee children are often more vulnerable to child protection risks and violations including separation from their families, neglect, violence and abuse, psychological distress, social isolation, discrimination, economic exploitation, trafficking and child marriage.
In 2023, the Government had registered an estimated 32,000 unaccompanied and separated children from Ukraine in Czechia. Unaccompanied and separated children often do not have adequate access to appropriate identification, registration, age assessment, documentation, family tracing, guardianship systems or legal advice. This placed unprecedented pressure on services.
UNICEF’s response
UNICEF partnered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), national and local authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to protect the most vulnerable Ukrainian refugees, including unaccompanied and separated children, children with disabilities and Roma refugees. Joint efforts focused on expanding integrated services, preventing and mitigating risks of violence, abuse and neglect, and strengthening child protection for all children.
450,000 people benefited from vital protection services, including legal and social counselling, case management, and interpreter assistance during their first contact with authorities and service providers.
370,000 children and caregivers accessed mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
238,000 women and children accessed gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention and response interventions.
1,000 refugee children with disabilities were provided with financial assistance and access to essential services.
Integrated services for refugees
Integrated community-based services were expanded to provide legal, social, and psychological support to vulnerable children – including unaccompanied and separated refugees, Roma children and survivors of gender-based violence – through partnerships with state and civil society organizations. In cooperation with the MoI, UNICEF supported the expansion of services across 18 Regional Integration Centers for Foreigners (RICs). Together, the Centers provided support to more than 401,000 refugees across Czechia, offering legal and social counselling, psychological care, case management, interpretation, and help accessing health, education, and integration services. The Centers connected vulnerable refugee children and families to legal aid, employment, MHPSS and other key services provided with local authorities, Labour Offices and civil society organizations.
Mental health and psychosocial support
UNICEF supported the development of early identification, prevention and protection services for refugee children and families by adapting community-based MHPSS tools and enhancing regional cross-sectoral coordination for integrated support. All RICs introduced on-site MHPSS, delivered by qualified Ukrainian psychologists who received training in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care (tailored to the experiences of displaced populations) and regular professional supervision sessions to support continuous learning and prevent burnout. To ensure comprehensive care, RICs established robust referral networks to specialized services and trained all service providers in community-based MHPSS approaches.
Social protection for refugee children with disabilities
In partnership with MoLSA and the Czech Red Cross, UNICEF provided financial assistance to 963 refugee children with disabilities between April 2023 and December 2024. Red Cross outreach teams also offered individualized support to families with access to essential and specialized services. Following the seventh amendment of the Lex Ukraine Law, financial support for refugee children with disabilities was successfully integrated into the national humanitarian benefit system starting in February 2025.
Strengthened child protection systems
Targeted capacity-building initiatives strengthened the skills of multidisciplinary workforce within the national system to deliver coordinated quality protection services. Social workers, psychologists, Labour Office and RIC specialists and frontline workers gained practical competencies in child sensitive social services, case management, psychosocial support, gender-based violence prevention, safeguarding, and working with unaccompanied and separated children, including identifying and responding to complex risks like trafficking. UNICEF supported reinforcement of the national system’s capacity to protect vulnerable children, combining a consultative assessment of the response to the needs of refugee children with a comprehensive review of the child protection system to inform the Government’s efforts build a more inclusive and effective system for every child. As a result, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and UNICEF are cooperating to develop a comprehensive Child Protection and Family Support Law, implemented with support of the European Commission.
UNICEF welcomes the following sustainability measures the Government and partners put in place for continued provision of vital support and services for refugee children and youth:
- Financial support for refugee children with disabilities is now provided through the national humanitarian benefit, ensuring continued assistance.
- MHPSS services delivered by Ukrainian psychologists as well as youth outreach and services coordinated by youth representatives will remain a core standard service provided by RICs under MOI.
- RIC staff trained in early childhood development and parenting support are now able to guide caregivers and provide referrals to relevant social and educational services, ensuring sustained, child-centered support.
Many young refugees fled the war from Ukraine to Czechia without parents or primary caregivers, facing significant challenges in adapting to a new environment, language, as well as the education system and labour market. Often largely invisible to national authorities, they can be unaware of the services, opportunities and support available to them.
UNICEF’s response
Refugee adolescents and youth face unique challenges due to their disrupted education, trauma associated with displacement and often separation from their families. Education is not compulsory after 15 years of age and secondary school enrolment among refugee adolescents remains persistently low at an estimated 23-33 per cent (compared to 85 per cent in primary school). UNICEF’s consultations with refugee youth revealed the trade-off they face between the desire to continue education and the need to start working due to the financial pressures of displacement. For many, the disruption to education and skills development now will have lifelong consequences. These challenges all affect their mental health and well-being, highlighting the need for psychosocial support alongside learning and skills development opportunities.
The CESTY (Pathways) programme
Initiated by UNICEF, CESTY provides Ukrainian youth in Czechia with opportunities to access education, develop skills and transition to quality first jobs. In partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) and the Ministry of Interior (MoI), CESTY has brought together all relevant stakeholders including government, civil society organizations, the private sector companies, embassies, academia and young people themselves to support refugee youth to stay on the path of continued education, skills building and transition to employment.
14,400 adolescents and youth (15-24) were supported to access and stay in formal education.
12,300 adolescents and youth were reached with skills development, job readiness programmes, internships and first jobs.
13,500 adolescents and youth benefited from community-based mental health and psychosocial support and case management.
Access to formal and non-formal education for youth
In partnership with NPI, VISK, META, Junior Achievement and Regional Integration Centres (RICs), UNICEF promoted access to formal and non-formal education for Ukrainian youth, offering career counselling, transition to secondary and vocational education, and preparatory classes combining language learning and peer integration. Through complementary initiatives, young people could enhance their job readiness and skills in entrepreneurship, digital literacy and communication.
Youth-friendly spaces and support services in Regional Integration Centres
Under the coordination of MoI and the Refugee Facilities Administration (SUZ), with UNICEF support, youth-friendly spaces and support services were embedded in RICs across the country. Young people with lived experience of displacement and fluent in their refugee peers’ language, were employed as youth representatives to conduct outreach, assess the needs of refugee youth through consultations, advocate, coordinate services, and facilitate skills-building.
Youth Representatives to conduct outreach, assess needs of refugee youth through consultations, advocate, coordinate services, as well as facilitate skills-building for better employability and recreational activities for them.
Skills building and transition to employment for refugee youth
Career counselling, career days and skills-building workshops with private sector partners empowered youth with practical skills and pathways to quality and safe employment opportunities. The Labour Office and UNICEF connected refugee youth with skills building and employment services provided by the EURES+3Z UP!, INTEGRACE, and EU Youth Guarantee programmes. The CESTY.space platform connected young refugees with skills building and employment opportunities with a wide range of private sector partners. The platform also provides extensive information on ethical employment, labour rights, MHPSS and other support services available for refugee youth through CESTY partners.
UNICEF welcomes the following sustainability measures partners put in place for continued provision of vital support and services for refugee children and youth:
- The MoI is working to sustain youth friendly spaces and youth representatives across all RICs for continued comprehensive support to refugee youth.
- RICs systematically use youth representatives’ feedback to inform social and legal counselling, psychosocial support and educational activities across Czechia. This innovative model ensures that refugee youth are not only beneficiaries of services, but also active contributors in shaping more responsive, inclusive support systems.
- Labour Office services under EURES, Youth Guarantee and INTEGRACE are now better tailored and more accessible to Ukrainian refugee youth through CESTY’s online and peer-to-peer outreach channels in cooperation with RICs.
- “Know your rights” and ethical employment materials developed by the CESTY programme are being institutionalized by the Labour Office and MoLSA.
The arrival of more than 645,000 Ukrainian refugees in Czechia since 2022 has placed immense pressure on the country’s primary healthcare (PHC) system. It has also revealed the existing gaps in the system, including shortages of medical professionals and pediatricians: a challenge for Czech citizens, as well as for Ukrainian refugees and their children.
Many Ukrainians have found it difficult to access health services due to rising demand. As a result, Ukrainians have faced long waiting times to register with medical practitioners. In addition, many Ukrainians do not speak Czech and may be unfamiliar with the workings of the health systems in their host country.
UNICEF’s response
In August 2022, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and UNICEF partnered to strengthen the system’s resilience and capacity to provide equitable access to quality healthcare for all – refugees and host communities alike.
“UNICEF was the first international organization to come with an offer of help,” says Jakub Dvořáček, Czechia’s Deputy Minister of Health.
75,000 children and women received primary healthcare services with UNICEF support, including through 11 newly-established outpatient centres, 28 pediatric clinics, CSOs, and governmental institutions.
37,000 children were vaccinated against preventable diseases.
14,000 people from the Ukrainian refugee and Roma community were reached through community health programmes focused on vaccination, nutrition and mental health.
2 million people were reached through national vaccination campaign.
1,200 Ukrainian healthcare professionals were supported in the accreditation process to work in the Czech healthcare system.
Expanding access to primary healthcare
The MoH and UNICEF established 11 new primary healthcare outpatient centres and expanded the capacities of 28 pediatric clinics across Czechia. These centres provided care to more than 62,000 women and children and vaccinated more than 37,000 children against preventable diseases – serving both refugees and host communities. The hospital-based model proved particularly effective in providing integrated and coordinated care, with interpreter services and streamlined access to specialists and diagnostics.
Empowering refugee healthcare professionals
In partnership with the Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education and National Centre (IPVZ) for Nursing and Non-Medical Health Professions (NCO NZO), more than 1,200 Ukrainian health professionals were trained and supported in obtaining accreditation to work in Czechia. Trainings included new modules developed on child and maternal health, MHPSS, the Czech health system, Czech language and communication skills.
Promoting immunization
To raise awareness about the importance of child immunization, MoH and UNICEF launched a nation-wide vaccination campaign. Information materials in Ukrainian reached more than 2 million people through TV and radio outlets. The campaign provided practical guidance on accessing vaccination services and built vaccine confidence through engagement with refugee communities and on-site vaccination sessions organized across the country.
Expanding community programmes for health promotion
In partnership with the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), UNICEF supported community health initiatives that promote vaccination and health literacy, reaching over 14,000 people from Ukrainian refugee and Roma communities. Tailored programmes were delivered through a newly established nationwide network of 68 Ukrainian health mediators and an existing network of 34 Roma health mediators.
System coordination and strengthening
UNICEF supported the Ministry’s coordination, planning and policy alignment across health partners, strengthening institutional capacity and emergency. To support sustaining and expanding the primary healthcare centers model set during the refugee response, a study was developed documenting lessons learned and costs of scaling the outpatient model.
UNICEF welcomes the following sustainability measures the Ministry of Health and other partners put in place for continued provision of vital support and services for refugee children and youth:
- Provision of primary healthcare services continues in the 11 outpatient centers established with UNICEF’s support, now fully financed through national insurance and state budgets
- Support for Ukrainian health staff in obtaining accreditation to work in their profession in Czechia is institutionalized through the Career Centre for foreign healthcare professionals, established by IPVZ in partnership with UNICEF and WHO.
While UNICEF’s refugee response in Czechia concluded on 31 December 2025, many of its interventions and programmes have been successfully integrated into national systems. This ensures that these efforts will continue beyond 2025, providing sustainable support that benefits both refugee and host communities.
Cesty
Refugee youth often must choose between low-skill work to meet immediate needs and continuing education to build future skills – a disruption that can have lifelong consequences.
The CESTY programme launched by UNICEF and implemented with partners during the refugee response was created to provide Ukrainian refugee youth in Czechia with opportunities to access education, develop skills and transition to quality first jobs.
