Bridging in Local Civil Society in Prague

A Community Supported by the Network Catalyzers Program 2026

Prague is becoming an increasingly multicultural city. Today, around one quarter of its population — about 350,000 people — have a migration background.

Despite this demographic shift, many residents still face systemic barriers to full civic participation. These include language obstacles, lack of voting rights, limited access to social networks and civic education, and other structural constraints.

Public discourse and everyday interactions often continue to frame people with migration backgrounds as “others” rather than as full members of society.

This dynamic appears not only in media and political narratives, but also in everyday experiences such as:

  • limited participation in local decision-making

  • parallel social circles between newcomers and Czech-born residents

  • a lack of shared spaces for meaningful dialogue and cooperation

Through this program and our community-organizing activities, we explore how shared participatory experiences — collaborative projects, dialogue, reflection, and mutual learning — can strengthen belonging and democratic engagement.


Who will we work with:

The community brings together people with migration backgrounds living in Prague who are active in community life, civic engagement, or are interested in bridging roles. It also includes Czech-born residents involved in civil society or community organizing.

We will also engage local civil society organizations, municipal representatives, institutions, and businesses interested in cooperation and community development.


How will we do this:

We will foster bridging by combining relationship-building practices with shared activities. In-person gatherings will focus on dialogue, collective reflection, networking and collaborative work rather than one-directional learning, encouraging participants to share experiences, explore different perspectives, and work together on issues of common concern.

The activities will bring together both existing members of the MigAct community and new participants, including those involved in the Community Organizers Training Program and DEMOS community dialogue facilitators and participants.


How to Participate:

If you are based in Prague, Czechia, we would love to connect with you! Reach out to us at: monica@migact.net, natallia@migact.net.

This community is led by Forum members and 2026 Network Catalyzers:

Mónica Márquez Bobadilla

Co-Director, MigAct

Mónica Márquez Bobadilla is co-director of MigAct and a community organizer with more than 15 years of experience working with civic initiatives and participatory processes. Her professional path began first in documentary film, then intercultural mediation, and later expanded into community organizing, civic participation, and civil society development. At MigAct, she co-leads strategic and program development and facilitates processes that connect active residents, grassroots initiatives, and public institutions, creating opportunities for collaboration and civic engagement. Originally from Mexico and living in the Czech Republic for 20 years, Mónica brings both personal and professional experience that helps bridge people from different backgrounds. She is strong in her facilitation skills, her ability to connect people across sectors and backgrounds, and her creative, trust-based approach to collaboration. Drawing on her background in anthropology and long-term practical experience, she combines curiosity about people and social dynamics with creative and trust-based approaches to participation. She is deeply motivated by her belief in the power of collaboration, trust, and human connection.

Co-Director, MigAct

Natallia Allen

Natallia Allen is a non-profit leader with over 15 years of experience in the NGO sector, working at the intersection of active citizenship, civil society practice and theory, education, and intercultural communication. She holds an MA in Civil Society Studies from Charles University in Czechia. Throughout her career, she has worked in various NGOs in leadership roles, focusing on civic engagement, migration, and participatory learning. She currently serves as co-director of MigAct, where she focuses on strategic development, fundraising, and program design, as well as bridging practice through the organization’s activities and programs. As a naturalized Czech citizen with roots and family connections across several countries, she draws on intercultural and lived experience to bring diverse perspectives together and explore questions of belonging.

Visit the 2026 Network Catalyzers Program page for more information about other communities supported by this program.