People in Need

People in Need was founded in 1992 by Šimon Pánek, a leading student activist during the Velvet Revolution, and by Jaromír Štětina, a war correspondent who focussed on conflict in the former Soviet Union. PIN began its work as Nadace Lidových novin (The Lidové noviny Foundation, in English Popular Newspapers) and changed its name two years later to Nadace Člověk v tísni při České televizi (The People in Need Foundation under the auspices of Czech Television). In 1999 PIN was given its current name, People in Need. Šimon Pánek has been the director of PIN since 2009. In order to deliver relief aid and development assistance, PIN works to create a tolerant, open society and mobilises public support. PIN's work is most visible during large humanitarian crisis such as the floods in the Czech Republic in 2002, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (Czech people and companies donated more than 130 million CZK) or the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

In Africa and Asia, PIN implements development projects that provide basic human needs and education. In several countries like Belarus, Cuba, Moldova, and Ukraine, PIN has supported individuals and groups who advocate for democratic liberty. In the Czech Republic PIN concentrates on issues such as the assistance of local Romani living on the peripheries of society, the organisation of cultural activities (the most prominent is the One World Film Festival founded by Igor Blaževič), the distribution of information projects and involvement in political activism.

PIN has established major projects in Afghanistan (irrigation, local schools), Sri Lanka (since the 2004 earthquake), Pakistan (reconstruction after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistani part of Kashmir), Angola and Ethiopia (construction of schools), Namibia (help for people suffering HIV/AIDS), Romania and Serbia (endorse groups of ethnic Czechs settled there for generations) and several other countries.

In 2008, missions were implemented by PIN in Myanmar (relief and recovery operations after Cyclone Nargis) and the DR Congo (support for victims of rape and sexual violence). In 2009 the PIN provided assistance to people in Czech Republic after a series of devastating floods.

People in Need has operated in Venezuela since 2014 and has been trying to motivate people active in society to remain in the country and continue in their work despite the difficult conditions. PIN provides small grants to a number of other NGOs and individuals to support their activities. The focus of the projects varies from support of activists operating in deprived areas to support of lawyers defending imprisoned activists.

Criticism

Russian criticism, Chechnya and Ingushetia

Since the end of the 1990s, People in Need maintained several projects in Chechnya and Ingushetia. In 2005, the Russian Weekly Argumenty i Fakty named PIN – and other NGOs and the UN – supporters of Chechen separatists and terrorists. PIN denied any involvement. In the same year Russia banned PIN from working in the region. Two years later, in 2007, People in Need was allowed to come back and keep working in Chechnya and Ingushetia.

Cuban criticism, ECOSOC

During a meeting of ECOSOC in 2006, the Cuban ambassador accused PIN of being financed by the US and conspiring against the government of Cuba and keeping in contact with Cuban emigrants who have a so-called terrorist past. After the vote, PIN was not recommended for consultative status with the ECOSOC.

Kosovo, South Ossetia

PIN was moreover criticised by some Czech journalists for expressing too much political concern: after the Kosovo war, for a perception that PIN supported Kosovar Albanians, but not the local Serbs. Similarly, after the South Ossetia war in 2008, PIN was criticised as relief was delivered only to Georgian civilians.