FHStories

High school students from abroad visited the faculty

In mid-July, a group of high school students from abroad visited the faculty to participate in the “Charles University Summer School: Discover Your Future" program organized by the Institute for Language and Professional Preparation UK (UJOP UK). These young people from various countries around the world had the opportunity to learn about our faculty and the study programs offered here. This year’s program featured two workshops that essentially addressed very similar questions: What does it mean to confront stereotypes? How do marginalized groups negotiate social recognition? And what strategies do they employ? Robert Malík explored this topic in relation to the situation of Slovak Roma who migrate to the United Kingdom. Tadeáš Dufek offered a perspective from the other side and, together with the summer school participants, reflected on why representatives of Native Americans might distance themselves from “euroindians”. We believe that the young high school students from abroad enjoyed their time at the Faculty of Humanities. They certainly showed interest in the topics presented.

From the abstracts

From Slovakia to Sheffield: What Would You Take With You? (Robert Malík)

Imagine your family decides to leave the country tomorrow. What would you pack? Your phone, sure — but what about everything else? You don't really speak the language. You don't know the city. You need to find a place to live, a school, new friends, and figure out how things work. In this workshop we will talk about Roma families from eastern Slovakia who moved to Sheffield in England. Some of them grew up in settlements without running water, sewage, or sometimes even electricity — in the middle of the European Union, in 2026. We will look at why they left, what they hoped for, and what they had to deal with after arriving: from finding work and paying rent to reading school letters in a language no one at home understands. We will also talk about stereotypes — the ones people carry with them, and the ones already waiting on the other side. Can you leave prejudice behind by crossing a border, or does it just follow you in a different shape?

Playing Indian: Appreciation or Appropriation? (Tadeaš Dufek)

What comes to mind when you hear the word Indian? A feather headdress? Tipis? Horses? Have you ever heard of Winnetou? Most of us have grown up with these images — but where do they come from, and how do Native Americans feel about them today? In the interactive workshop, we will explore the world of Czech Indian hobbyism (“euroindians”), a tradition that has existed for decades and continues to attract people fascinated by Native American cultures. Together, we will look at why these cultures have inspired generations of Europeans. This workshop invites participants to question familiar images, think critically about cultural representation, and discuss what respect, identity, and intercultural understanding mean in today's world.

We bring you some photos from the visit (photos by Ondřej Trojan):