Tomáš Ščuka graduated from the Police Academy of the Czech Republic, Security and Legal Studies department in Prague in 2012. He is currently in the process of completing a combined master’s program in European Law at Palacký University Olomouc and the University of Salsburg. He is a high school social work teacher in Brno and is also a coordinator at the National Institute of Public Health focusing on the support of health care in socially excluded communities in the South Moravian region. From 2014-2017, Tomáš worked for the European Parliament and European Commission, first for the parliamentary group of the Socialists and Democrats, and then collaborating on a report about the Roma people in Europe. He later served on a short-term assignment with the Joint Research Centre, working on social inclusion for marginalized communities, including the Roma people. He was also involved in a project to analyze desegregation in the field of education in Hungary.

Tomáš has extensive experience on Roma-related issues. He served as chairman of the working group for Roma youth and other EU policies at the Inter-ministerial Commission for Roma Community Affairs. In 2018, Tomáš was selected as a junior researcher for a joint project of the Council of Europe, the Georg Eckert Institute and the Roma Education Fund, focusing on the representation of Roma in European textbooks. He provided data collection, analysis, and critical tasks for the preparation of the final report, which he presented at the commission meeting in 2020. On this basis of the report, the commission adopted a resolution to improve the representation.

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Protect Yourself from Fake News

This project raised awareness of fake news and hoaxes, particularly within the Romani community in the Czech Republic. Three in-person workshops and one online discussion were organized, engaging more than 2,000 people in conversations about fact-checking and combatting misinformation. The sessions were accessible to participants in  socially excluded localities, overcoming barriers that often inhibit their participation in such conversations.

"I believe [this project] will draw attention to this social problem and could gain systemic support in the fight against misinformation and fake news against the most vulnerable groups of citizens." - Tomáš Ščuka

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Dignified Protection for the Roma People of Ukraine

A series of workshops was organized focused on combatting discrimination against vulnerable groups and supporting the dignified protection of the Roma people. A total of 60 participants learned about active citizenship, democracy, fundamental human rights, and the protection of minorities.

IVLP Exchange Experience

Tomáš participated in the IVLP Project A Global Moment in Time- Reflections on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in 2021 and 2023, both organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, Global Ties Detroit, WorldBoston, WorldChicago, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Global Ties Kalamazoo, International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles, Global Minnesota, WorldOrlando, Global Ties Arizona, WorldOregon and Global Ties San Francisco.

Tomáš' exchange experience led him to develop his IVLP Impact Award Projects: "A special moment for me was meeting at the Baptist Church in Boston. The story of the black community and the struggle for their basic human rights is similar to that of the Roma."

U.S. Communities Visited in 2023

San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Boston, MA

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021

Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Colorado Springs, CO Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Detroit MI; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland, OH; Portland, OR

"The IVLP program is a great opportunity to develop and enhance skills. I believe that my participation can help me to contribute my experience in the field to the development of inclusive, cross-community education and to actively participate in the EU’s decision-making process in themes related to human rights." - Tomáš Ščuka

 

Country: Czech Republic

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