People in Need Foundation

In 1992, a group of Czech journalists from “Lidoviny Novine”, a main force in the 1990 Velvet Revolution, created the “Epicentrum” group and the “Lidoviny Novine Foundation”. Their idea was to combine journalism and humanitarian aid in crisis and war zones.

After initially concentrating on shipping first aid to Nagorno-Karabakh in May 1992, their main focus shifted to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The group provided a series of “SOS” appeals within the Czech Republic in order to collect and transport emergency aid to BiH. In March 1994, the group re-established itself as the People in Need Foundation (PINF), affiliated with Czech public television.

Its activities culminated in autumn 1995 with the organisation of the “Month of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Czech Republic”. This campaign’s focus was less on humanitarian aid and more on highlighting and supporting BiH’s cultural and civic forces. Placed under the auspices of Václav Havel, Alija Izetbegović and the Council of Europe, the “Month of Bosnia and Herzegovina” included 90 events organized in 40 cities, involving 150 artists from BiH. As a follow up to this spectacular event, PINF organized President Havel’s first visit to BiH in December 1995.

Beyond its efforts in BiH, PINF also simultaneously developed other activities; today, it is one of the biggest non-profit organizations in Central Europe, providing emergency humanitarian aid to countries in crisis and supporting pro-democracy activists and independent journalists opposing repressive regimes.