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Information About Open Arms Project

Aim and Purpose of the Project

Pavel in children home in Aš By a simple human touch (stroke, smile, eye contact, play, holding in arms) to reduce psychic deprivation of the children that way that they would be able to develop their possibilities, skills and that they get a good basis for their entire lives.

There is one nurse available for five up to eight children in classical infant and children homes. This quantity doubles at night and during the flu season. It is obvious that when a nurse is taking care for one child, the others cry or wait for their own turn. The avarage time left for an individual care of one child is limited to 15–30 minutes daily. We would like to encourage the volunteers willing to help the children .

History of the Project

Children home in Aši The project has started in November 2003 in children home for children till the age of 3 years in As. In the beginning its main patron is Tereza Maxova Foundation. Since that time this Project has visited also Center for children in Veska and Children home in Sedlonov, Center for children in Zlin, in children home in Milovice in above mentioned homes this project has ended up already. One of the aims of this project is to make a home with volunteers free that it does not need help any more. There are enough volunteers there and so the project could concentrate on new homes. Contemporary it is taking place in Children home for children till 3 years in As and in Infant home in Karlovy Vary. From January 2008 the project is in Children home in Kasperske mountains.

The author of this project, Miluska Magenheimova, has started it originaly in OS Člověk hledá člověka with Tereza Maxova Foundation as the main sponsor, now when this project became bigger and independent known as Open Arms, she put it to the String Foundation, which she has built. This way the project can be more independent and have more space.

Topical Target Group

The volunteer's work The volunteer's work is changing according the year and place, where the project is being realized. There are following centers now:

  • Children home and Asylum for social care in As there are 90 children there , out of that 60 children from their birth till the age of three and 30 handicapped children from three to eighteen
  • Infant home in Karlovy Vary with 60 children. Since January 2006 this asylum has been joined in patronage with children home in As
  • From January 2008 Children home in Kasperske mountains, with 50 children from three to eighteen years

Children home in As and Infant home in Karlovy Vary became since January 2006 an united organisation, covered by a region. A civil association Home! (http://www.dd-karlovarsky.cz/) was founded to help those children and it overtook the care for this project for this home. If you wish to become a volunteer in some of the above mentioned homes, please visit the link how to help.

Logo Nadace Terezy MaxovéThis project has been realized under the patronage and kind support of Tereza Maxova Foundation and of Clifford Chance from January 2008.

Logo Clifford Chance Clifford Chance

Logo OS Domů! Domů! foundation is one of the Open arms project partners.

Logo Tacoma Sponsor Of The Open Arms Project for OS Domů!


Česká verze English version
"Officially, it is not permitted and only directors of children’s care homes after thorough consideration may issue permission and give somebody the opportunity to become a host - a guide through the life of an older child that can’t be put to any foster care family or adopted and that is abandoned..."