We attended a conference in Prague as part of the Stronger Roots programme. Presentations,

workshops, civil society organisations and lots of new information…

The two-day series of presentations took place on 2–3 October. We arrived a day early, as it was a long journey. This gave us a good opportunity to get to know a few of the participants and their work before the conference.

The morning of the first day began with a presentation, during which we welcomed the participants and played a short icebreaker game, which gave us the chance to get to know participants from other countries. This was followed by another presentation, where we learnt about the Stronger Roots programme and its achievements to date. The third presentation of the day was about storytelling and how to deliver a speech that engages the audience. This was followed by the workshops, where we could choose from three options: storytelling, artificial intelligence, or wellbeing within organisations. 

In the afternoon, we continued with a group photo, followed by ‘word café’-style discussions. Six tables were set up, each with a different topic; people could join any of them and take part in the discussion. 
We then set off in three groups to visit an external venue. We visited a community centre that provides support to homeless women. Women who wish to spend an afternoon there, cook or store their belongings are welcome to use the facility. They also help with administrative paperwork and even provide psychological support. We rounded off this long day with a big dinner together at a brewery, where we were able to sample a Prague beer.

The second day of the conference was only a half-day, lasting until midday. This day was mainly devoted to presentations. Following the morning welcome, a discussion began between two professionals on the future of the civil society sector and the current situation. A few participants then shared their experiences of the project. This was followed by a presentation on current topics of interest that are trending online, and how we can apply these to promote our organisation. 

By the end of the day, all that remained was the closing ceremony; the closing speeches were delivered, and we thanked all the organisers for their hard work.

It was a very informative and exciting two days; we learnt a great deal about other countries, the civil society organisations operating there, the challenges they face and the strategies they employ. We are grateful for this opportunity and delighted to be part of the project.